Free Hormone Bioavailability describes the fraction of a circulating hormone that is unbound to carrier proteins, such as SHBG or albumin, and is therefore capable of diffusing into tissues to interact with intracellular or membrane receptors. Only this unbound fraction exerts biological activity, making it the most clinically relevant measure of hormonal potency, despite often being the lowest concentration.
Origin
This concept is derived from endocrinology and receptor theory, emphasizing that binding proteins act as temporary reservoirs, controlling the effective concentration gradient across tissue barriers. Bioavailability focuses on functional availability rather than total hormone mass. It highlights the dynamic equilibrium governing hormone action.
Mechanism
The mechanism depends on the dissociation constant of the hormone from its carrier protein and the overall concentration of both the free hormone and the binding protein. Factors influencing this include liver function, steroid synthesis rates, and the presence of modulating substances that compete for binding sites. Increasing free fraction requires either increasing total hormone or decreasing the concentration of the binding globulins.
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