Produced by: The liver
​
Definition / Purpose:
SHBG binds androgens (like testosterone) and estrogens and transports them throughout the body.  

Lab Reference Range: See below
3-9 Years 
32-158 nmol/L
32-158 nmol/L

10-13 Years
20-166 nmol/L
24-120 nmol/L

14-17 Years
20-87 nmol/L
12-150 nmol/L

18-55 Years
10-50 nmol/L
17-124 nmol/L

>55 Years
22-77 nmol/L
14-73 nmol/L

 
When to order:
- When monitoring Tg levels.

Pearls:
Half-life: Several days.
Elevated SHBG may mean that you have an elevated Tg level
Estrogen increases SHBG, Testosterone decreases SHBG.
When hormones are bound to SHBG they are not able to be utilized throughout the body.
Normal lab values of SHBG will decrease with age. In the author’s opinion, this is nonsensical. As an example, a healthy 50 year should want and have a SHBG level of a 30 year old.