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Tim Dietz's avatar

Thank you for this information. To reduce the SHBG, what kinds of magnesium and zinc are needed and in what dosages? Thank you

Dr. Ksenia Malarkey's avatar

Generally: the magnesium forms with the best absorption are glycinate, malate, and citrate. For zinc, picolinate and citrate are well absorbed.

While magnesium appears to reduce SHBG's binding affinity for testosterone, which frees up more of it, and higher magnesium status tracks with higher free testosterone in observational data. Zinc's effect shows up mainly in men who were deficient to begin with. Neither is a lever that overrides the bigger drivers of high SHBG, which are usually insulin sensitivity, thyroid status, liver health, and alcohol.

Dr. Ksenia Malarkey's avatar

If you take zinc daily for more than a few weeks, it needs to be balanced with copper, because zinc depletes it. And typically no more than 30mg zinc without medical guidance.

Tim Dietz's avatar

Thank you for your response, Dr. Malarkey. If I am reading you right, it doesn’t matter which form of the two are taken, as long as the desired dosage is there?

Dr. Ksenia Malarkey's avatar

A lot of time its based on tolerability too. But, yes.

80yo guy here's avatar

Ah, I've been wearing pants with waist=38" for ... too long.

Maybe I better not toss those 36" pants!?

Comprehensive info here.

Thank you so much.

I shall print this and add it to my file.

Dr. Ksenia Malarkey's avatar

: ) Thank YOU for the chuckle!