I received my latest labs and noticed that my SHBG have dropped over time.
Levels are stated in: nmol/L (19.3-76.4)
5/5/2019 - 49.2 (This was pre-TRT)
(Started TRT 100mg Test Cyp. 50mg 2/week)
7/17/2019 - 50.8
8/10/2019 - 39.5
Dose raised to 120mg/week
9/11/2019 - 27
10/29/2019 - 31
12/2/2019 - 18.0
Is this drop something I need to be concerned about? Thanks!
Any changes to your diet over that time frame? Fasting? Eating lots of refined carbohydrates?
No. Diet has remained pretty steady. Shoot for .8g protein p/pound body weight, healthy fats and complex carbs with a few cheat meals here and there.
Interesting. I’ve read there is a correlation between SHBG and insulin. More insulin, less SHBG and vice versa… But I’m not sure how it works really.
As I’ve increased my dose, my SHBG has also decreased going from a high of 38 to now 26. I thought it had to do with my intermittent fasting, but I don’t think so now…
Have you asked your doctor about the decrease over time and what it could mean?
The excess androgens suppresses SHBG, you can clearly see it when you increased your dosage. You will see a decline in SHBG in those with low thyroid function, it could just be related to your dosage increase.
I have a message in to him but haven’t heard back.
I just found this on another site, “On of the biggest influencers on SHBG production is Growth Hormone (GH) and IGF-1. IGF-1 directly suppresses the liver’s production of SHBG. This in turn increases the free testosterone fraction, making more of it available to act on target cells. The combination of high GH/IGF-1 and low SHBG is the ultimate anabolic cocktail.”
https://trt-train.com/what-are-shbg-and-albumin/
Back in July I started taking Ibutamoren (12.5mg) prescribed by a telewellness doctor for improving sleep, which it has. I wonder if that has increased my HGH and IGF-1 levels and that’s the reason for the decrease.
Yeah, my thyroid levels are fine. All in all, now that I’ve got my E2 under control, which I tanked with too much Adex and have stopped altogether, I’m feeling good.
Super interesting read on SHBG @teeitup, thanks for posting that. Seems like a lot of stuff going on that could impact SHBG. Who knows which one does what at which time…geesh