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SHBG

Meaning

SHBG is the clinical acronym for Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, a glycoprotein primarily synthesized and secreted by the liver that binds to and transports sex steroid hormones, namely testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and estradiol, in the bloodstream. SHBG acts as a key regulator of sex hormone bioavailability; hormones bound to SHBG are generally considered biologically inactive and unavailable to target tissues. Its concentration in the blood is a crucial factor in determining the amount of “free” or biologically active hormone available to modulate cellular function.