Do SHBG-lowering supps raise or lower estrogen in men?

[JRSAC]

I've read a lot of conflicting information on this one... I'm talking about the test boosters that increase free T by lowering SHBG (like Unleashed does).

I know that SHBG binds to both test and estrogen, so lowering it should not only free up some test but also some estrogen as well, right? I realize that men have less estrogen than test, so more test should be freed up than estrogen, but would this increase in estrogen ever be significant enough to, say, warrant taking an anti-estrogen like Post Cycle while taking a product like Unleashed? Or would the rise in estrogen be negligible compared to the rise in free test?

I've been told by some that these types of products can increase estrogen levels, but others have told me they decrease it. I'm not sure who to believe and would love some more input. I am thinking of trying a product like Unleashed in the next couple months, but I'm not sure whether it'd be a good idea to take it by itself or with some kind of anti-estrogen (Post Cycle).

 

[Nelson Montana]

I've read a lot of conflicting information on this one... I'm talking about the test boosters that increase free T by lowering SHBG (like Unleashed does).

I know that SHBG binds to both test and estrogen, so lowering it should not only free up some test but also some estrogen as well, right? I realize that men have less estrogen than test, so more test should be freed up than estrogen, but would this increase in estrogen ever be significant enough to, say, warrant taking an anti-estrogen like Post Cycle while taking a product like Unleashed? Or would the rise in estrogen be negligible compared to the rise in free test?

I've been told by some that these types of products can increase estrogen levels, but others have told me they decrease it. I'm not sure who to believe and would love some more input. I am thinking of trying a product like Unleashed in the next couple months, but I'm not sure whether it'd be a good idea to take it by itself or with some kind of anti-estrogen (Post Cycle).

The conflicting information is coming from marketers who are copying UNLEASHED but don't really know what they're doing or talking about.

SHBG binds T and allows estro to form. The lower it gets, the less estro can "dock" at the e receptor sites.

UNLEASHED does not raise estro. Some supps can. Tribulus increases LH, which in turn can increase e. For some reason Fadogia does so with less estro elevation though we're not sure why. Of course, you MUST have LH elevation to produce testosterone. So it's a matter of keeping the two in balance.

 

[JRSAC]

So you're saying if I were to take a test booster that increases total test (via LH increase) such as Bridge from NTBM, then taking an anti-estrogen would be beneficial... but for Unleashed and other free-test boosters that act on SHBG it would be a waste to take an anti-e because those don't affect e levels? Does Unleashed actually lower SHBG or does it just bind to SHBG so that less of it is binding with your test?

I'm trying to do as thorough research as possible on different test boosters before deciding if I should try one out in the near future. I've heard lots of positive anecdotal evidence about Unleashed on this site and others, but want to make sure it's not the type of product that can increase e and maybe cause gyno or hinder fat loss. I wouldn't be using this for PCT but as a stand-alone supplement... taking that into account, would anyone recommend taking NTBM's Post Cycle with it, or would this be a complete waste of money? (I'm only interested in strength/recovery, not the boner bonuses)

 

[Nelson Montana]

So you're saying if I were to take a test booster that increases total test (via LH increase) such as Bridge from NTBM, then taking an anti-estrogen would be beneficial... but for Unleashed and other free-test boosters that act on SHBG it would be a waste to take an anti-e because those don't affect e levels? Does Unleashed actually lower SHBG or does it just bind to SHBG so that less of it is binding with your test?

I'm trying to do as thorough research as possible on different test boosters before deciding if I should try one out in the near future. I've heard lots of positive anecdotal evidence about Unleashed on this site and others, but want to make sure it's not the type of product that can increase e and maybe cause gyno or hinder fat loss. I wouldn't be using this for PCT but as a stand-alone supplement... taking that into account, would anyone recommend taking NTBM's Post Cycle with it, or would this be a complete waste of money? (I'm only interested in strength/recovery, not the boner bonuses)

Since UNLEASHED only raises freeT it cannot raise estrogen.

In theory, a test booster can raise estrogen but in reality it's unlikely that any natty T stimulant will raise total testosterone to the point where it would aromatize.

 

[rich_89]

Since UNLEASHED only raises freeT it cannot raise estrogen.

In theory, a test booster can raise estrogen but in reality it's unlikely that any natty T stimulant will raise total testosterone to the point where it would aromatize.

Though it's unlikely, it is possible, because it happened to me!

I felt like i had ants under my nipples when i was taking phytoserms. Thought it was my imagination, as i wasn't aware that this was possible, until nelson educated me (previously)

 

[JRSAC]

Since UNLEASHED only raises freeT it cannot raise estrogen.

In theory, a test booster can raise estrogen but in reality it's unlikely that any natty T stimulant will raise total testosterone to the point where it would aromatize.

But how exactly does Unleashed raise free T? Does it somehow lower production of SHBG, or does it simply bind to a portion of the SHBG that you already have, thus not allowing that portion to bind to test? If it is the latter, would taking unleashed not also increase free estradiol, since SHBG binds to e2 as well (though with less affinity)?

 

[Nelson Montana]

Though it's unlikely, it is possible, because it happened to me!

I felt like i had ants under my nipples when i was taking phytoserms. Thought it was my imagination, as i wasn't aware that this was possible, until nelson educated me (previously)

How did you treat it? Anti e and UNLEASHED?

 

[JRSAC]

bump for my last question to nelson, I posted it at the same time as your last post so I don't think you saw it

 

[mryar]

http://www.medical.siemens.com/siem...s/news_views/spring00/techreports/zb170-b.pdf has more than you ever wanted to know about SHBG.

A titbit:

Changes in the total hormone concentration produce relatively minor changes in the size of the free fraction because excess carrier protein binding sites modulate extreme variations in hormone concentrations. In contrast, changes in the SHBG concentration greatly affect the amount of steroid available to tissues. SHBG binds testosterone with high affinity, and changes in the SHBG concentration result in large shifts in the free and albuminbound testosterone fractions.

Basically, your testes produce testoterone in surges, SHBG keeps these levels consistent.

 

[Nelson Montana]

bump for my last question to nelson, I posted it at the same time as your last post so I don't think you saw it

It works similarly to proviron in that it prevents it from being formed.