Lowering SHBG Levels

[dowlsy]

This is a huge thread, that I feel is important to educate people about SHBG levels.

From a T-Mag article: Testosterone Unleashed!
by Dr. Lonnie Lowery


• Under-eating is related to higher SHBG concentrations.

• Over-training is related too.

• Over-eating, conversely, lowers SHBG.

• Insulin is inversely related to SHBG levels.

• Particular supplements appear to reduce SHBG binding.

In a nutshell, consuming two to three protein-carb meals before lunch and two protein-fat meals after lunch seems a decent "androgen emancipation" strategy. It should keep insulin levels reasonably high while providing both proper substrates to muscle and reducing SHBG. The probable free-Testosterone elevation over time should help the higher circulating insulin that you're cultivating do it's anabolic/ anti-catabolic thing. And let's not forget, early or late, workouts generally enable an additional carb meal post-exercise, so take advantage of them. Getting an insulin spike when Testosterone and GH are also high is like hiring three construction workers at once!

Okay, now that we know how to carefully jack-up insulin regularly enough to keep SHBG from hog tying our precious T, let's briefly talk supplements. Perhaps the most interesting is Avena sativa, or green oat, like that found in Biotest's Tribex-500. Data on this stuff are sparse but there is some suggestion that it combats SHBG. An often touted but unpublished report from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco suggests that green-oat extracts do release Testosterone from its binding proteins.

And as a side note, Japanese research suggests increased luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion as well, via interactions with the anterior pituitary gland itself (6, 9). Yeah, these latter studies were done in amenorrheic women, but I told you the data were sparse! Anyhow, the combined effect could well be higher circulating concentrations of free T, even in men.

The other general approach is to simultaneously raise total T and free-T via prohormones. Although unpublished, I've seen first hand that androstenediol, for example, can raise serum Testosterone levels with the bound (SHBG-tied) and unbound levels rising simultaneously. One could very well speculate that a prohormone (or other steroid), combined with green oat supplementation and natural (or unnatural) insulin elevation could be quite the ticket for muscle anabolism.

To summarize our "unleashing" plan, we need to 1) Eat every 2-3 hours, focusing on protein with carbs in the morning and protein with "healthier fats" in the evening 2) Allow for adequate rest — perhaps two "off" days weekly — to prevent over-training 3) Limit high-volume training cycles to just a few weeks, and 4) Possibly consider a 2-4 week course of Avena sativa along with the frequent eating to see if one's prohormones, (etc.) are more effective.

With the person-to-person variation in SHBG being on the order of 40-50% (27), these "unleashing" suggestions may be just the ticket for those of you who have high SHBG and don't even know it. Although the "free hormone hypothesis" debate rages on, it is an interesting scenario — especially if we can control it. If you get less progress from a cycle of androgens than your gloating training buddy, SHBG may be involved. Perhaps the data mentioned here is your missing factor. In any case, the research suggests a new mechanism for the wonders of massive, disciplined eating.


Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is a glycoprotein synthesized by the liver. Circulating androgen and estrogen concentrations influence SHBG synthesis. The regulation of SHBG synthesis, combined with SHBG's higher affinity for testosterone, impacts bioavailable testosterone levels.

SHBG binds up to 98 percent of the steroid hormones in the blood including 5a-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone and androstenediol with particularly high affinity, and estradiol and estrone with slightly lower affinity

Male and female children have similar SHBG concentrations until the onset of puberty, when SHBG levels begin decreasing more rapidly in males than in females. Levels are higher in women than in men, due to the higher ratio of estrogens to androgens in women. Levels are especially elevated during late pregnancy and in women taking oral contraceptives.

True androgen status can be assessed either by measuring free testosterone or by calculating the ratio of total testosterone to SHBG, known as the free androgen index (FAI).

Conditions that suggest Low SHBG:
Hormones Hirsutism Because SHBG is often low in women with hirsutism, free testosterone is elevated while the total testosterone concentration is normal. This means the free testosterone portion is responsible for increased male characteristics. Just an increase in free testosterone with no increase in total testosterone can produce significant consequences.

Hypothyroidism Modest reductions in SHBG levels may be encountered in individuals with hypothyroidism.

Hyperprolactinemia Modest reductions in SHBG levels may be encountered in individuals with hyperprolactinemia.

Lab Values
Elevated Cortisol Levels Modest reductions in SHBG levels may be encountered in individuals with Cushing's syndrome.

Metabolic
Problems Caused By Being Overweight SHBG levels respond to extreme changes in body weight, decreasing in obese patients.

Skin-Hair-Nails
Adult Acne Low levels are often found in cases of acne vulgaris.

Uro-Genital
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Low levels are often found in cases of polycystic ovary syndrome. SHBG is low in about 50% of cases.

Risk factors for Low SHBG:
Drug Side Effects Prescription Drug Side-Effects Modest reductions in SHBG levels may be encountered in individuals receiving glucocorticoids such as prednisone.


Environment / Toxicity
General Detoxification Requirement Aromatase is the enzyme that converts androgen to estrogen. Aromatase is an important target of some environmental chemicals. Some of these compounds inhibit aromatase activity, resulting in a decrease in the level of estrogen or an increase in the level of androgen in cells. Environmental chemicals can also modify the expression of aromatase in various tissues, resulting in a change in the ratio between androgen to estrogen. The compounds that inhibit aromatase or suppress aromatase expression will behave as antiestrogens or androgen-like compounds in vivo. On the other hand, compounds that increase aromatase expression or enhance aromatase activity (or stability) may function as anti-androgens or estrogen-like compounds.

Hormones
High Testosterone Level, Male
High Testosterone Level, Female Elevated testosterone causes SHBG synthesis to decrease, lowering its level in the blood.

Low Progesterone or Estrogen Dominance Elevated estrogen levels stimulate SHBG production, increasing levels in the blood.


Lab Values - Hormones
Very/moderately low SHBG

Counter-indicators:
Elevated SHBG

Laboratory Test Needed
Elevated Insulin Levels Research has discovered that sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), a relatively unknown blood protein, is a reasonably good indicator of insulin resistance. Low levels of SHBG are consistently linked to high levels of insulin in the body. Sustained high levels of insulin are, in turn, associated with the development of the chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Low SHBG suggests the following may be present:
Drug Side Effects Prescription Drug Side-Effects Modest reductions in SHBG levels may be encountered in individuals receiving glucocorticoids such as prednisone.

Recommendations for Low SHBG:

Diet Weight Loss As weight loss will improve insulin resistance, and insulin resistance can be measured by low SHBG, weight loss should help normalize low SHBG levels.

Gluten-free Diet Substituting rice for wheat, which generally has a lower amylase content, can raise SHBG levels via lowered insulin levels. However, starches should be restricted when trying to lower insulin levels.

Drug
Conventional Drugs Selection of an OC formulation that maintains increases in SHBG may be important in minimizing androgenic effects in general, and especially important in hyperandrogenic women, who may benefit most from reductions in levels of free testosterone.

SHBG's may be lowered by two of the artificially generated progesterones, norgestrel and norethisterone. If you are a woman who may be susceptible to androgenetic alopecia, that is, hereditary hair loss (female pattern baldness), or you have a naturally low SHBG level, you should avoid any contraceptive pills or hormone replacement therapy that contains synthetic progesterone.

Extract
Not recommended:
DIM (di-indolmethane)/I3C (Indole-3-Carbinol) Aromatase inhibitors like DIM, Indole 3 carbinol, and chrysin should be avoided, as they will enhance any preexisting androgen / estrogen dominance.

Hormone
Estrogen Replacement The use of estrogen to increase SHBG and hence reduce biologically free testosterone may lessen acne and hirsutism. This mechanism is commonly operative in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. With estrogen replacement, estrogen levels are higher and liver production of SHBG increases. With pregnancy or some birth control pills, you will have high SHBG, and you will have high levels of circulating hormones, but they will be mostly bound (including testosterone).

Although this article was primarily written for women, all the info is also applicable to men.

[mywetnightmares]

This is in the wrong section.

Moved...
~Hawkwind~

[Cammo]

Originally Posted by mywetnightmares

This is in the wrong section.

It's also been ripped off

[macro]

Originally Posted by dowlsy

by Dr. Lonnie Lowery


Extract
Not recommended:
DIM (di-indolmethane)/I3C (Indole-3-Carbinol) Aromatase inhibitors like DIM, Indole 3 carbinol, and chrysin should be avoided, as they will enhance any preexisting androgen / estrogen dominance.

, all the info is also applicable to men.

this is why the title of "doctor" means so little.

1. DIM and I3C are not aromatase inhibitors
2. DIM and I3C are anti-androgens (see post #7 below)
3. DIM and I3C are aromatase inducers (see post #8)

Thoughts on I3C/DIM - AFboard

[RoyceDa59]

Is this one of those threads for the paranoid overthinkers?

[narcsarge]

Quite possibly Royce!


And over a year old to boot....

[vassille]

It's interesting to read this stuff regardless of the age....

[macro]

SHBG being high is rarely the problem for most people, LOW SHBG is however a problem.

androgens lower SHBG, so unless you have low test your SHBG levels are generally low.

since DHT has the HIGHEST affinity for SHBG, lowering it can mean a big bald head for those that are prone.

[vassille]

Yea some ppl are very prone to that....good info!