[❇ Abby ❇]

Why should we be interested in Sex Hormone Binding Globulin?
It's because of ‘free hormones’ and how much are actually available for your body to use.

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, or SHBG for short, is a protein that exists throughout your body and grabs onto sex hormones. These including testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, and by binding to the hormones, it makes the hormone unavailable for your body to use.

Normal levels of free testosterone and free estrogen are between 1 and 3%.

The SHBG bound hormones are still in your body, so your total hormone levels may be normal, or even high, but with too much SHBG, you can start to exhibit the energy lags, mood distortions, and other problems that go along with low hormone values.

SHBG is produced in response to the body’s hormones, to help regulate hormone balances, mostly to stop them going too high. The problem is it's easily fooled when taking hormone supplements.

SHBG is produced mainly in the liver cells and released into the bloodstream - other production sites are the brain, uterus, placenta and testes (where it is sometimes called androgen-binding protein). SHBG is also produced in response to stress.

A small reduction of SHBG will greatly increase the amount of free progesterone and estrogen available to your body.

SHBG count rises in direct correlation with oestrogen.
Green tea will increase SHBG.
Sugar will increase your SHBG
High fructose corn syrup will increase SHBG
Low testosterone levels will increase SHBG

Nettle roots will lower SHBG but also oestrogen
Boron Supplementation will greatly reduce SHBG
Vitamin D will lower SHBG
Magnesium will lower SHBG


_________________________________
Source:
www.researchgate.net/
www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/
Principles and Practice of Endocrinology and Metabolism
healyourselfathome.com/
Individualizing Hormone Therapy: Principles and Practice

[Lotus]

Excellent post Denita,

A couple others to add:

• Flax-Phytoestrogen, increases SHBG, source of omega-3 fatty acids.
  

• Oats-Phytoestrogen, decreases SHBG, source of zinc, iron, vitamins B6, vitamin E and amino acids

And BMI is a direct correlation to increased SHBG

[Lotus]

So pop-quiz NBE friends, is increased SHBG a good or bad thing?

[AnnieBL]

Lotus, Denita, anyone else with knowledge!

When I finally managed to persuade our NP to order a test of my testosterone levels, she ordered three tests. One was total T, one was SHBG, and I don't know what the third one was. I only got told the result of the total T which was less than 0.7 (presumably nmol/litre, which would translate to less than 20 ng/dl in the units normally used in the US), and I suspect represents the lowest level measurable in that particular lab. I asked what the other tests showed and she said it was less than 1. Now if that was the SHBG test, then the figure seems extraordinarily low, whatever the applicable units. I normally have joint sessions at the NP with my wife but she wasn't with me on that occasion. She said I was far too unassertive (true) and should have insisted on extracting more information. I don't think the NP is strong in this area, and I would guess that she requisitioned some standard test panel. Has anyone any idea what the third test might have been, or was it just a requisition for a value for free T calculated from the total T and SHBG figures, which wouldn't be possible if total T was that low?

Any thoughts?

[Lotus]

Lotus, Denita, anyone else with knowledge!

When I finally managed to persuade our NP to order a test of my testosterone levels, she ordered three tests. One was total T, one was SHBG, and I don't know what the third one was. I only got told the result of the total T which was less than 0.7 (presumably nmol/litre, which would translate to less than 20 ng/dl in the units normally used in the US), and I suspect represents the lowest level measurable in that particular lab. I asked what the other tests showed and she said it was less than 1. Now if that was the SHBG test, then the figure seems extraordinarily low, whatever the applicable units. I normally have joint sessions at the NP with my wife but she wasn't with me on that occasion. She said I was far too unassertive (true) and should have insisted on extracting more information. I don't think the NP is strong in this area, and I would guess that she requisitioned some standard test panel. Has anyone any idea what the third test might have been, or was it just a requisition for a value for free T calculated from the total T and SHBG figures, which wouldn't be possible if total T was that low?

Any thoughts?

Oh Annie sweetheart you unassertive?, now come on! you're a natural born leader my dear friend!,

Yes that is the Total T representation, 0.7 nmol/litre, or 20 ng/dl units which is totally a low female range and perhaps she was so frazzled and flabbergasted by your female results you threw here for a loop.

Female Testosterone - 0.7nmol/L
------ 20ng/dL (Low female Limit)

And if they had it correct it would be your Free T that they didn't bother disclosing, why I dunno, I understand it's under appreciated by some medical professionals, it's what I've came across in my research though, of course this is all my opinion though!.

Hugs!!!

[GoneGirl]

Lotus, Denita, anyone else with knowledge!

When I finally managed to persuade our NP to order a test of my testosterone levels, she ordered three tests. One was total T, one was SHBG, and I don't know what the third one was. I only got told the result of the total T which was less than 0.7 (presumably nmol/litre, which would translate to less than 20 ng/dl in the units normally used in the US), and I suspect represents the lowest level measurable in that particular lab. I asked what the other tests showed and she said it was less than 1. Now if that was the SHBG test, then the figure seems extraordinarily low, whatever the applicable units. I normally have joint sessions at the NP with my wife but she wasn't with me on that occasion. She said I was far too unassertive (true) and should have insisted on extracting more information. I don't think the NP is strong in this area, and I would guess that she requisitioned some standard test panel. Has anyone any idea what the third test might have been, or was it just a requisition for a value for free T calculated from the total T and SHBG figures, which wouldn't be possible if total T was that low?

Any thoughts?

Hi Annie,
I don't know what the third number is -- maybe albumin?

I suggest that because by measuring your total T, SHBG, and albumin, you can calculate your free T. This is often done because actually measuring free T is rather expensive and isn't done on a basic T screening.

Here's a link to calculate your free T given the three other measured values:

Free T Calculator

I hope this helps.

Clara

[AnnieBL]

Thank you Lotus and Clara,

So far as calculating free T is concerned, it seems that 'less than' figures would be useless for any further calculation, so that if a calculated figure was requested, it probably was not provided. And if the SHBG figure really was <1, then this seems extraordinarily low. What could cause it to fall so low? Indeed how did the total T get that low, even assuming no testicular output. I know that Sammie reported a very low figure, but at the time she was taking substantial AA doses, whereas I have taken none for some considerable time - there didn't seem any point.

While there is endless material on line about the effects of low testosterone, I have not found any discussion of the effects of levels as low as I have. Have you?

The NP was taking the position that the low testosterone and severe testicular and penile atrophy (no, she didn't examine them) were just normal manifestations of andropause and something to be expected at my age, which I reckon is nonsense. Nor has anyone, including the stand-in urologist I eventually saw, who also didn't examine me, explained why my PSA count, after being stable at around 4 for years, has now dropped effectively to zero in my last two tests. I'm inclined to think that it could have something to do with PM, which is supposed to be prostate friendly.

As to SHBG, does it only bind to natural or bio-identical human sex hormones, or can it bind also to phytoestrogens? Could a low level simply result from there being nothing for it to bind to?

[Lotus]

Thank you Lotus and Clara,
While there is endless material on line about the effects of low testosterone, I have not found any discussion of the effects of levels as low as I have. Have you?

I usually find references in TG forums, (I'm not a member of them, just for research) anyways one reference was from when an Endo doc had his TG patients T level down to female levels which he did quite well from what the op stated.

Now concerning your Total T, it only takes a 1 to 2% increase of Free T to make you feel better. For aging males we still produce enough Total T but it gets bound up by SHBG and albumin. And that's where SHBG seems to be stubborn and has an attitude to boot lol.

Albumin (which is a plasma protein) ties up 30 to 40% of the Total T, while 60 to 70% is tied up (bound) by SHBG, leaving only a 1 to 3% for FREE T, ya know the bio-active kind (useable).


So, I'll give someone else a chance to answer this and the rest of your questions, (sorry Annie) I'm intruding on Denitas thread. However I will ask this, what can you (we) do to effect the change and increase Free T, and yes let me point this out please, where does E come from (what's its precursor hormone?) not where it's produced.


Give me a shout if you get stuck!


Hugs!

[kimdl93]

Any idea on the dosage levels of vitamin d and magnesium that can influence SHBG levels?

[❇ Abby ❇]

Thank you Lotus and Clara,

So far as calculating free T is concerned, it seems that 'less than' figures would be useless for any further calculation, so that if a calculated figure was requested, it probably was not provided. And if the SHBG figure really was <1, then this seems extraordinarily low. What could cause it to fall so low? Indeed how did the total T get that low, even assuming no testicular output. I know that Sammie reported a very low figure, but at the time she was taking substantial AA doses, whereas I have taken none for some considerable time - there didn't seem any point.

While there is endless material on line about the effects of low testosterone, I have not found any discussion of the effects of levels as low as I have. Have you?

The NP was taking the position that the low testosterone and severe testicular and penile atrophy (no, she didn't examine them) were just normal manifestations of andropause and something to be expected at my age, which I reckon is nonsense. Nor has anyone, including the stand-in urologist I eventually saw, who also didn't examine me, explained why my PSA count, after being stable at around 4 for years, has now dropped effectively to zero in my last two tests. I'm inclined to think that it could have something to do with PM, which is supposed to be prostate friendly.

As to SHBG, does it only bind to natural or bio-identical human sex hormones, or can it bind also to phytoestrogens? Could a low level simply result from there being nothing for it to bind to?

Hi Annabel,

Just done some research and yes some phytoestrogens do bind to SHBG but not all. Phytoestrogens also increase SHBG because they act like estrogens.

Source:
Dietary Isoflavones Affect Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin Levels in Postmenopausal Women
Xenoestrogen interaction with human sex hormone-binding globulin (hSHBG)

Denita