SHBG and free testosterone

Serum sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a sex hormone bound to the protein globulin. It is a protein secreted by the liver that binds to sex hormones such as testosterone and dihydro-testosterone in men and estradiol in women, a type of estrogen which is the main sex hormone in women.

When the globulin protein decreases in the body as a result of one of the reasons we will mention, this leads to an increase in the percentage of free testosterone in the body. On the contrary, when the protein globulin increases in the body, it binds to free testosterone (active hormones) a strong bond that is difficult for the body to break, which leads to a decrease The percentage of free testosterone in the body.

Causes of low SHBG in the body

• Hypothyroidism, a condition in which your body does not make enough thyroid hormones.
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• Excessive use of steroid medication.
• Cushing's syndrome, a condition in which your body makes too much of a hormone called cortisol.
• For men, it could mean cancer of the testicles or the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys and help control heart rate, blood pressure, and other bodily functions.
• For women, it could mean polycystic ovary syndrome.

These reasons lead to a decrease in globulin protein in the body, which leads to an increase in free testosterone.

Causes of high SHBG proteins in the body

• liver disease;
• Hyperthyroidism, a condition in which your body makes too much thyroid hormone.
• eating disorders;
• For men, it could mean a problem with the testicles or the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is located under the brain and controls many functions of the body.
• For women, it could mean a problem with the pituitary gland, or Addison's disease, a disorder in which the adrenal glands cannot produce enough of certain hormones.

All of these reasons lead to an increase in globulin protein in the body, which leads to a decrease in free testosterone in the body.

Testosterone bound to globulin represents about 40% to 60% of the total testosterone in the body and is an inactive hormone in this form. An increase in globulin protein in the body leads to a decrease in free testosterone in the body, which negatively affects male characteristics such as roughness of voice, muscle mass and condition. Sexuality and body hair growth, To find out the percentage of protein globulin in the body, an analysis of SHBG is done, In the end, we can say that globulin protein is responsible for the amount of free testosterone in the blood.

See also Natural testosterone boosters.