Hi, I Am A 39 Year Old Male And Had

Posted on Wed, 10 Jul 2019

Question: Hi, i am a 39 year old male and had a male hormone test in XXXXXXX 2018 with a reading of 70nmol/l for the SHBG. i repeated this test again recently with a result of 82nmol/l and a very low free testosterone level. i have always kept fit and active in the gym with a body type leaning more toward mesomorph however over the last year or so i have struggled to keep weight off especially around the stomach and 'love handles'. i am sure if a stopped going to the gym i would gain weight rapidly. is there any medical reason for this SHBG reading and weight gain? Many Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Elona (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Increased SHBG level can be related to several medical conditions.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
I have gone through your query and here is my response.

Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a protein that is produced by the liver and binds tightly to sex hormones( testosterone, dihydrotestosterone , and estradiol).

SHBG transports these hormones in the blood as biologically inactive forms.

In adult males the normal range of SHBG is 10 to 60 nmol/L.
So your SHBG test results are high.

A high SHBG level means that it is likely that less free testosterone is available to the tissues of your body.At the other side, low testosteron can cause weigh gain.So this is your situation.

To answer to your question:Yes there are some medical conditions that can be the reason of high SHBG reading.
Liver disease,Hyperthyroidism,Eating disorders (like anorexia nervosa)
Hormone replacement therapy and,Decreased sex hormone production (hypogonadism) can be related to increase SHBG levels.

Hope i have clarified your doubts.
Let me know if i can assist you further.
Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D