All You Need to Know About SHBG

Men and women have incredibly complex hormonal systems that drive a multitude of functions in the body, including mood and energy regulation, as well as fertility and sexuality. But did you know that the human body produces one very important hormone that actually controls and determines the balance of other sex hormones in your blood? To know more about the Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and the role it plays in our hormonal system, dive into our new blog post!

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What is a sex hormone-binding globulin? (SHBG)

Let’s start with the basics and determine what SHBG really is. SHBG is a protein made in the liver that helps to control the number of sex hormones in the body, ensuring the important balance between testosterone and estrogen. In simple terms, it binds to certain sex hormones to remove the excess amount from your blood. 

Sex hormones are stored in your body in free and bonded forms. Free hormones or those bonded to albumin protein are freely available to the body and directly impact your organism. On the other hand, hormones which are bonded to SHBG become inactive and don’t have any impact on your body functions. That is how SHBG keeps the hormonal balance in your body and ensures your reproductive system works properly. That is why having optimal levels of SHBG is important for maintaining your hormonal system. If your SHBG is too high or too low, it can affect the way certain hormones work and your reproductive health. 

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What affects levels of SHBG? 

A lot of factors can influence SHBG. For instance, it’s normal for men to experience a gradual decrease in SHBG with age. As for women, their hormonal cycle, pregnancy and menopause determine the fluctuation of SHBG. In addition, research shows that the length of the menstrual cycle can also affect levels of SHBG, as women with shorter cycles (less than 26 days) were found to have higher SHBG than those with longer cycles of +27 days. 

Often, a disbalance in SHBG may be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as liver disease, obesity, eating disorder or a thyroid condition – that’s why it is very important to be aware of your hormonal status and chronic diseases. Disruption in SHBG levels can negatively impact the way your body releases and uses sex hormones. 

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What does it mean if your SHBG is too low? 

If your liver does not produce enough SHBG, there will be an excess of testosterone and oestrogen hormones in your body. For example, if a woman has too low SHBG levels, her testosterone can become abnormally high – disrupting her hormonal health. In particular, it can result in issues with acne, insulin resistance, risks of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. In addition, studies show that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) tend to have lower levels of SHBG. 

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What does it mean if your SHBG is too high?

This can be harmful to both men and women, as high levels of SHBG decrease the amount of free hormones in the body. For men, symptoms of high SHBG can lead to erectile dysfunction, depression, weight gain, low libido, muscle loss and hair loss. For women, high SHBG – and low testosterone can lead to decreased libido, low energy and an irregular menstrual cycle. 

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When is it time to test for SHBG? 

It’s hard to put SHBG levels under a blanket statement of what is considered “normal” because of its fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and age. Nevertheless, on average, healthy ranges of SHBG fall within 18 and 144 nmol/L after puberty. 

It is recommended to get a blood test to evaluate levels of SHBG when the total testosterone results in your blood test do not seem consistent with symptoms. The symptoms may include infertility, irregular menstrual periods, and excess facial and body hair in women. In men, these may include infertility, decreased sex drive, and erectile dysfunction. If your blood test shows that your testosterone or oestrogen levels are excessively high or low, testing for SHBG will help you to determine why it may happen and give you the complete picture for the correct diagnosis. 

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How can you improve your SHBG levels? 

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Diagnose and treat the underlying health conditions 

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To correct your SHBG levels effectively, first and foremost, it’s important to find the reason behind the imbalance and address those issues accordingly. Start with checking your thyroid and liver health by taking appropriate blood tests (Thyroid Panel and Liver Function Panel) and consulting with your doctor regarding any chronic conditions that you have. 

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Exercise 

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Scientists have found a strong link between obesity and low SHBG levels. Since the age-related decline in testosterone is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and other metabolic risk factors, exercising has been proven beneficial for the prevention and optimisation of metabolic and hormonal health, according to a randomised clinical trial among men aged 40 to 75, exercising helped to correct SHBG levels and improve testosterone levels. 

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Improve Your Diet 

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One of the major factors that may influence your hormonal status is diet. According to a 2000 study conducted on men aged 40 to 70, eating more fibre-rich foods helped increase low SHBG levels, while adding more protein-based dishes to the diet lowered SHBG levels. In addition, a recent study on postmenopausal women revealed that foods with low glycemic index and lower sugar intake might help correct high SHBG levels. 

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To see how you can optimise your SHBG levels through nutrition, check out the following tips from the bioniq clinical dietitian, Lama Dalloul:

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• Follow a balanced diet that includes all the food groups (healthy fats, proteins and carbs) based on your daily body needs.
• Consume more fibre-rich foods, such as legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, whole grains and fruits.
• Avoid refined carbohydrates, sweetened beverages and foods with a high glycemic index, such as pastries, pasta and white rice.
• Avoid processed meat, such as sausages, hot dogs, salami, and bacon.
• Include vegetarian protein sources: beans, chickpeas, and lentils.
• Include omega-3-rich foods: fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, tuna and chia seeds, flaxseeds, and nuts)
• Limit your coffee consumption to a maximum of 2 cups per day if your SBGH is too high. 

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