High sex hormone binding globulin in males
Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a glycoprotein produced by the liver. Accordance with its name, SHBG circulates in the blood “binding” hormones flowing out there and suppressing them useless. However, SHBG binds and suppresses estrogen (estradiol) about ten times less effective than it binds androgen. In other words, high levels of SHBG : Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a homodimeric 90,000 to 100,000 molecular weight glycoprotein, is synthesized in the liver. Metabolic clearance of SHBG is biphasic, with a fast initial distribution from vascular compartment into extracellular space (half-life of a few hours), followed by a slower degradation phase (half-life of several days).
4) Diabetes Care, May 2004, 27(5):, “Testosterone and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Predict the Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes in Middle-Aged Men” 5) Bone Miner Res, 2008 Oct, 23(10):, “Older men with low serum estradiol and high serum SHBG have an increased risk of fractures” A sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is what is known as a glycoprotein, a group of carbohydrate chains attached to polypeptide chains, which binds to human sex hormones. These binding proteins are most often found bound to the primary male sex hormone, testosterone, and the primary female sex hormone, estradiol, which is a type of estrogen. This test measures the level of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in your blood. SHBG is a protein made by your liver. It binds tightly to three sex hormones found in both men and women. These hormones are estrogen; dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and testosterone. SHBG carries these three hormones throughout your blood.
Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a protein produced by the liver that transports the hormones testosterone (an androgen), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (an androgen), and estradiol (an estrogen) in the blood as biologically inactive forms. Changes in SHBG levels can affect the amount of hormone that is available to be used by the body’s tissues. Excessively high SHBG is problematic especially for males and athletes because it decreases the amount of testosterone. High levels of SHBG are associated with infertility, a decreased sex drive, and erectile dysfunction, especially when total testosterone levels are already low. A high SHBG level means the sex hormone binding globulin protein is attaching itself to too much testosterone. So less of the testosterone hormone is available, and your tissues may be not be getting enough testosterone.
SHBG is short for sex hormone binding globulin and it is a serum blood test that can give you valuable insight about your hormones! Low levels of SHBG may be associated with low thyroid function and low estrogen status while high levels may bind up testosterone leading to weight gain, depression, and other symptoms.
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