Insulin resistance, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and sex hormone-binding globulin in essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate insulin sensitivity, and serum levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-sulfate), in patients with essential hypertension. DESIGN AND METHODS: In 15 non-treated hypertensive patients, insulin resistance was measured by an insulin suppression test (IST). Serum levels of DHEA-sulfate and SHBG were measured at the beginning and at the end of the IST. The results were compared to those of a control group of 10 healthy normotensive subjects matched for age, sex and body mass index (BMI).