Total vs Free Testosterone: The Inadequacy of the Free Hormone Hypothesis - Ryan Root

In this video Ryan Root discusses the inadequacy of the free hormone hypothesis, and explains why he thinks total testosterone is more important than free T.
0:00 intro
0:40 Ryan Root, one of the largest convicted steroid dealers in U.S. history
12:49 The free hormone hypothesis
32:20 Practical applications for men on TRT
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[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

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[@joshwhitney7463]

These guys are so much more educated on hormones then doctors. Literally saved my life these guys. Doctors left me for death.

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

@joshwhitney7463 Thank you for sharing! Hope you're doing better now!

[@NYGuy2000]

Brilliant guy! Thanks for having him on!

[@hormonesforme]

Thank you!

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

I appreciate that, @NYGuy2000

[@liftingdermatologist]

It was my pleasure!

[@liftingdermatologist]

My pleasure!

[@DrewPWebos]

😂😂😂😂😂 i cant stop laughing!

[@jamesm6634]

That was interesting. Thank you for all the new info.

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@liftingdermatologist]

I learned again

[@raquelnayor3497]

Ryan Root, you are the real deal! In awe over your knowledge on hormones and biochemistry!

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

@raquelnayor3497 , Thank *you* for watching and *commenting* !!👍

[@daviddavid1057]

What a great guy, thank you for your help my man! Great video again!👍🏻

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

Happy to help! Learned something new?

[@daviddavid1057]

@@TRTandHormoneOptimizationyes of course, we always learn something new right 😊👍🏻

[@mikewilliams2112]

Thanks again for such valuable information to the TRT community! You guys are great!

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

I appreciate that, @mikewilliams2112

[@hormonesforme]

Thank you!

[@DrewPWebos]

R u serious? 🙊🙉🙈😂😂😂😂

[@Total_Body_Fitness_USA]

Ryan knows what he is talking about. One thing I wanted to point out is that testosterone glucuronide, androsterone glucuronide, etiocholanolone glucuronide, and dihydrotestosterone glucuronide are the major metabolites of testosterone and all of them are excreted in urine and bile as well as the liver based on a few factors too much to go into here. Also, your overall gut health and microbiome have a lot to do with testosterone half life because the glucuronide metabolites of testosterone can be deconjugated by the bacterial β-glucuronidases. Another note - when I see someone with high SHBG I always first check thyroid hormones to make sure they are not elevated because high levels of T3 can drive up SHBG. Stress, low caloric diets, low protein, and liver problems are a few other reasons for high SHBG as well as age. A low SHBG can be caused by low thyroid hormone, obesity, poor health, and of course insulin resistance. Great video and interview.

[@WJHandyDad]

great stuff

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

@WJHandyDad , Thank *you* for watching and *commenting* !!👍

[@hormonesforme]

Thank you!

[@Neel_44]

Thank you💪

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

Learned something new?

[@IanM2698]

Great! Very interesting would really like a video on what Ryan was talking about in beginning of video about how people and life situations are different on TRT like the powers of Testosterone that we give out through our actions and possibly the power pheromones? Very interesting how people around Ryan and in our own lives react to being on TRT! Thanks 🙏 PS I’ve just started my TRT journey 10 days in an already feeling something different and happier but still early stages

[@pharaohasar678]

Hey Ryan thanks for the knowledge! This dude knows his shit.

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

Thank you, @pharaohasar678 I appreciate that, please help by sharing this video around!

[@hormonesforme]

Thank you!

[@barrie888]

Interesting guest good choice

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

@barrie888 Thank you *so much* !

[@akunamatata4266]

I came up with the same hypothesis after reading comments on Facebook group, lot of low shbg people needed less testosterone because they feel worst and also SHBG is more of a transportation than donf kind of bad magnet. People with regular SHBG feel better than lower shbg

[@hormonesforme]

You are correct that people with high range total testosterone and normal SHBG levels tend to feel better than people with low SHBG levels.

[@jerrygunns6675]

I am now following him

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

@jerrygunns6675 Thank you for sharing! Enjoy your weekend!

[@johnnycorvette4242]

@hormonesforme3615 What do you feel is a target ratio for total testosterone(ng/dL) to SHBG (nmol/L)? Thanks! Great video!

[@Brian_Life]

@hormonesforme3615 Hi Ryan! For a man who is obese (BMI around 36 with diabetes and associated bad blood pressure and blood lipids), blood testosterone level of 160, SHBG 18, Free-T low to to low-normal range - is that someone who would need endogenous testosterone, and/or enclomiphene? What is your opinion on obese men taking T assuming they workout regularly? I heard other youtubers say there would be too much aromatization because of fat cells. Also, how to you feel about subq versus IM testosterone injections, are both acceptable methods?

[@riggs9688]

Ryan what it’s your HRT protocol? You look great!

[@hormonesforme]

Thank you very much! I am currently on testosterone and nandrolone. My SHBG tends to get too low, so I eat very low sugar and a high fiber diet.

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

Thanks for the great question!

[@Dan-rp7il]

he seems to know more than the MD's you have had on. Very important information

[@hormonesforme]

Thank you! The fact is, when people go to med school, they study a broad range of topics, very little of which covers testosterone. The little information they do learn is antiquated notions and dogma from decades ago. I have studied solely this field for over 2 decades, and hence, have aggregated more empirical data than any endocrinologist, urologist, or physician could have, unless they had my history. Thanks again for watching.

[@user-ej5sk4cq2d]

@@hormonesforme You have not aggregated more than any doctor Ryan. You are a self proclaimed expert with absolutely no medical training. Who does the treating at your clinic? it can't be you! Your history as a drug dealer? is that the history you are referring to? Another wannabe doctor....

[@davehollin6477]

I just found out that high shbg could be due to "iron overload" my shbg is high and also transferrin is high too. Both free and total T are high but i have symptoms of low t. I plan to donate blood to deal with the high tranferrin and hopefully that will bring shbg down to normal range. Im so glad i watched this video because up untill now i thought shbg was nothing but bad and neede to be eliminated. Thanks guys!

[@hormonesforme]

Thank you! Your strategy of lowering iron if you are overloaded is sound. Don't be afraid to titrate your testosterone dose up; you may need more testosterone than most because of your elevated SHBG. Additionally, keep an eye on your iron overload and take means to mitigate it. There is some theory that people with iron overload may deposit iron throughout their body, including the brain, which can lead to long term issues.

[@antoniehm87]

When I started trt my initial blood work showed total t 192, free 42, but SHBG of 12. So my shbg has always been low due to unknown reasons. I’m currently on trt for 3 years but I haven’t seen the effects that I expected. SHBG is now single digits.

[@antoniehm87]

I always felt that if my SHBG was in normal range I would feel better. Not that I feel terrible or anything. Trt literally changed my life for the better in so many ways, I just always felt like there was just one small piece missing. My doctor has tried to get me to lower my dose before because my free t was above range even though my total was high normal. I always say I feel fine and if I lower it I’ll have issues. My current dose is 140mg a week. But what the doctors don’t know is I feel my best and healthiest on 300mg a week, but they would freak if they knew that and probably cut me off. My blood work looks amazing on 300 as well. 300 puts me at around 1500 total t and for me that’s the sweet spot but for one I don’t get prescribed enough to do that year round and 2 I’m not sure if it’s healthy to do it year round (probably is)

[@hormonesforme]

The first way we can try to increase your SHBG is to adjust your diet. Cut out sugars, as insulin crushes SHBG, and increase fiber. You can get a high fiber cereal or take Metamucil. If that doesn't work, we can look at prescribing you thyroid medication, which increases the production of SHBG.

[@hormonesforme]

@@antoniehm87 Once we get your SHBG in a decent range, we can see how you feel. Many people need a blood testosterone level of 1500 or more to feel optimal. The idea that everyone is the same, and everyone should be in a range of around 1000ng/dL is ludicrous. Genetic differences in frequency of androgen receptors, binding affinity of testosterone to the androgen receptor, potency of the cascade effect once T binds to androgen receptors, in addition to a thousand other factors of which we don't know cause a massive disparity in androgen sensitivity. If you feel great at 1500ng/dL, and the rest of your healt markes are in order, then there is no empirical data that suggests that wouldn't be sustainable. Adverse effects to our health will manifest in our health markers, and we can make changes accordingly.

[@antoniehm87]

@@hormonesforme thanks for the reply. At one point in time I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism for a period of about 10 months and it returned to normal for unexplained reasons. Would you know who I could contact for better care or to at least go over my blood work, as my pcp doesn’t know any of this stuff.

[@abcdefgh4404]

I feel way better on my TRT when my free T is around 25-30 than 15-20 ng/dl.

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

@abcdefgh4404 Thank you for sharing!

[@rickycarfan54]

that’s a really interesting story. i’m wondering if with your great experience and having saw lots and lots of people on testosterone you can throw some light on this: why is that some people does respond greatly to testosterone and are really sensitive to this molecule… and other people barelly feels any effects?? did it ever happen in your experience to have non respondent? how do you treat them?

[@hormonesforme]

Great question! There are a lot of complex biophysical interactions from TRT. Testosterone is very beneficial, but some people can be sensitive to upstream and downstream hormones affected by testosterone, such as: estrogens and progesterone. I look to keep all of these hormones in what I call people's Goldie Lox zone, where everything is just right. Somepeople have very broad Goldie Lox zones, and others have very narrow Goldie Lox zones, and if they slip out of their Goldie Lox zone, they have a side effect. I have become very adept at diagnosing which hormone is out of place, and helping people get into their Goldie Lox zone. Most people, I would say close to 90%, immediately react very well to testosteorne and they live dramatically improved lives. They don't go to social media and help forums to simply tell people they are doing great. It is the 10% that have problems that flood help forums, which can give people the false impression that many people have negative side effects from TRT. Something else you are describing is differences in people's androgen sensitivity. This is another huge issue that isn't addressed, and I will be doing videos to educate people on this concept. Each individual has different levels of androgen sensitivity, and those with low andregen sensitivity need more testosterone, and higher blood levels, to have the same effect as someone with normal sensitivity. Low androgen sensitivity is more pervasive than is realized. I deal with by slowly increasing dose until the benefits are realized while paying attention to health markers to maintain safety.

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

Thanks for watching the whole interview, and for your question!

[@rickycarfan54]

@@hormonesforme thank you very much for your answer. Would it be possible to be in contact with you to have a sort of consultation on my personal situation? cause i’ve started with testosterone after i start feeling symptoms of low t after a pretty hard cut phase in which i lose a lot of fat and went to a decent low body fat. since than… i’m solwly and progressively increasing the dose but i actually do not see this big improvement in mood, energy, performance, sense of well being, drive and motivation… and i do also not experience any of the side effect: anxiety, acne, difficult to sleep, irritability, high blood pressure… basically not a big deal at all… 😄🤷‍♂️ but since i started… i reach pretty high dose… and still i’m not able to say i’m on something! i could not tell the difference if someone put water into my ampule!!😄😄

[@hughtoobin7207]

Ryan was the reason I kept increasing my dose until I started seeing symptom resolution. When I got to 200mg/wk without any real benefits, he convinced me to go to 250mg/wk, I was ready to give up TRT - thinking it was just a waste of money... but I listened to Ryan and followed his advice. After about 2-3 weeks it was like someone turned on the lights. I am on 250mg/wk (EOD - so my levels are pretty stable) and my TT is 750+/-. I am a poor responder and Ryan convinced me not to give up and improved my life... Thank you Ryan Root.

[@hormonesforme]

@@hughtoobin7207 Thank you so much! It is results and compliments like this that drives passion for me to work hard to help as many people as possible. I appreciate you. Thanks again.

[@malekmalek9064]

Was difficult for me to follow,but listened to the whole thing. I could imagine tho,that having a to low SHGB and thus high free testosteron and a blood test,which 'is just a point in time' doesn't tell us anything about, if all that free test is actually used anyway.i assume that testosteron in the blood bound for a longer time,makes that the body/androgen receptors have more time to take up the testosterone or the test has more time to bind to the receptors i guess🤔🤔🤔

[@hormonesforme]

This is a good point. Blood tests are a snapshot in time, and do not provide us with a dynamic understanding of hormone fluctuation. More blood tests are better. Many people believe that low SHBG and high free testosterone means that the testosterone is binding to androgen receptors and being used more quickly. Although this may be true to a degree, too much free testosterone will downregulate the frequency of androgen receptors, and free testosterone is glucuronidated, which inactivates testosterone, and it is filtered out through the liver. Your body can upregulate glucuronidation if there is too much free testosterone, reducing the amount of active testosterone. Testosterone bound SHBG can be utilized by cells and is protected from glucuronidation.

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

Thanks for watching the whole interview, and for your question!

[@malekmalek9064]

@@TRTandHormoneOptimization thanks for all your effort 🙌

[@brandonjames8631]

Wonder what’s considered high free and total also what’s high shbg look like . My total is around 1700 w a free of 40 and my shbg is 39

[@hormonesforme]

We shouldn't shoot for specific numbers. 1000 can be high for some, and others need 1800 to feel optimal. If your health markers are in order, and you feel good, I see nothing wrong with your numbers. Again, I would have to look more comprehensively at the rest of your bloodwork and how you feel to make a real determination.

[@brandonjames8631]

@@hormonesforme I’m not a numbers guy but i do labs when I’m feeling good Consistently for weeks and this my numbers at that time . I may soon and would be interested. I have more labs coming up so should be similar.

[@MrTyler34]

What dos Ryan root say about blending testoseron enathe and testosterone propionate?

[@hormonesforme]

Blending testosterone enanthate and testosterone propionate creates a short ester/long ester blend that is the basis of Sustanon. In theory, this means you have a stable long ester with added testosterone spikes from the short ester. This works better with more frequent injections, and can be effective for some people, especially for those who want to see results faster. However, for most people who simply want to feel good, we tend to feel more optimal by stablilizing our hormone levels for a long period of time. The best way to do this is through regular injection of long esters which promote more stable blood levels with less fluctuations.

[@MrTyler34]

@@hormonesforme would eod injection be enough on a blend Batch?

[@Carlos-mm4zv]

What test is better for trt, cypionate, or enanthate ?

[@hormonesforme]

Enanthate is a 7 carbon ester; cypionate is an 8 carbon ester. The half-life is very similar, so they aren’t very different. Most people can’t tell the difference.

[@Carlos-mm4zv]

@hormonesforme3615 Thanks. Used both. Was wondering if any difference.

[@liftingdermatologist]

@@hormonesforme Thanks for being active in the comment section, my friend!

[@daviddavid1057]

​​​@@hormonesforme So what is the level of SHBG and total testosterone you would like to see on trt, for example total testosterone of 1000 with SHBG of 38 is that a good ratio in your opinion? Thank you👍🏻

[@hormonesforme]

@@liftingdermatologist Thank YOU for the great platform to present education!

[@sharifterry663]

Land the plane already damnt

[@Hash1985]

What are optimal levels of total T and shbg levels if free T is irrelevant?

[@Hash1985]

Total T: 778 Free T: 20.6 E2:

[@hughtoobin7207]

@@Hash1985 You taking an AI?

[@Hash1985]

@@hughtoobin7207 no

[@roguejimo736]

Bring on Dr. Scott Howell

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

We did 4 years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/goKuoGSHo755qK8

[@user-ej5sk4cq2d]

Didn't he leave the country after marrying a transgender female?

[@tipofthespear6118]

@@user-ej5sk4cq2dyep…her name is Ernie💯💯💯

[@dr.truthteller9768]

Alright Gill, we need you to watch this and get back to us to help us understand...

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

Awesome. Could you post this question and tag Gil in our facebook group. Then we'll get an answer.

[@hormonesforme]

Thanks for watching. You can ask any question you have to me, and I can answser it is a simple and cogent manner.

[@dr.truthteller9768]

@@TRTandHormoneOptimization Wish I could but some moderator kicked me out for saying a VA doc was dumb for starting a 67 year old vet on 200mg when his levels were 500 to begin with. Moderator thought I was talking about the vet and straight up kicked me off. I think the moderator kicks it with Dr. Grant (whom I respect). Kind of a beta thing to do

[@wayneholbrook]

Is it normal for someone my age (54) who takes only 12mg per day of testosterone cyp (84MG per week) to have levels of around 930 total and free direct of 21.8. I keep hearing so many people taking 100-200mg of testosterone cyp. My SHGB is around 24. I should add that my T levels were around 300 prior to starting daily T shots a few years ago

[@hormonesforme]

I would say that your body processes testosterone well, and this amount very well may be ideal for you. There are many people who would not even notice any difference, and still suffer from symptoms of hypogonadism from a dosage of 84mg per week. There is a massive disparity between the way each individual reacts to testosterone, which is it is important to develop a methodology to figure out what yields the best results for each individual.

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

Thanks for watching the interview, and for your question!

[@wayneholbrook]

@@TRTandHormoneOptimization I truly appreciate your time and response

[@gothops2632]

How do you feel compared to the way you felt prior to TRT?

[@wayneholbrook]

@@gothops2632 Put on more muscle, energy picked up, but some lingering anxiety still that has not entirely gone. It was much worse prior. Also when I was dosing twice a week 50mg each I kept having estrogen issues, bloating, insomnia etc…. Then I went to a lower dose and daily injections and all that went away.

[@DrewPWebos]

This guy has the cloudiest memory I've ever seen 🙊🙉🙈🤭 #trenkillz

[@hormonesforme]

Sorry about that. I am still new to presenting on camera. I will get better with time.

[@DrewPWebos]

@@hormonesforme your good bro just giving you a hard time. Your def a humble dude and I couldn't do better 🙏👊

[@Jacob-ud9fe]

I was also busted in operation cyber-juice. A guy named Joel Pasternak told on me and 20 other people. Did def time, the shit sucked. Glad you’re doing good man.

[@TRTandHormoneOptimization]

@Jacob-ud9fe Thank you for sharing!

[@hormonesforme]

You went down in Operation Cyber Juice as well? What was the name of your lab? We likely know of eachother. Very interesting. I can't put an email address here, but get ahold of me from my website and we can speak further.

[@hormonesforme]

I saw your reply before it was taken down. The reason it was taken down was because it had a website address in it. Oh you were apart of Hulkbody! Hulkbody didn't last too long, but they did a lot of business. My business cam before Hulkbody, but we were both at the top of eroids around the same time. That is where I recognize the name Joel Pasternak. There was a church Pastor that was involved in that operation. The Pastor got time too. Joel got a lot of time too, I think he got extra time for trying to destroy evidence, if I remember correctly.

[@Jacob-ud9fe]

Lol yep that’s the one. His father was #2 man, and the pastor you speak of. His mother was #3, both did fed time. Half the operation was being ran out of the church! Still blows my mind that I got tied up in all that shit man. I was like you, legit just trying to make a few hundred extra a week, it was hard times. Def wasn’t worth it lol.

[@roblincoln10]

Dude, crazy. Back in 2012, I was a big consumer in the industry and in that specific forum. Crazy to hear stories of shit now, and better yet, seeing the positive come from it. So crazy.

[@tzahi12370]

A lot of if not all oral steroids will crush or lower SHBG very low.. so how bodybuilders feel fine ? Because the supraphysiological T levels? Even the high doses they inject every time ( 250mgs minimum at once plus more compounds injectable) will lower SHBG very much from what I know.. correct me if Im wrong..

[@hormonesforme]

Although a bolus of injected androgens will reduce SHBG, and some androgens have a higher binding affinity to SHBG than testosterone, allowing for more free testosterone, for many people taking angrogens, even body builders, their SHBG stays in an ideal range. As with everything, this has as lot to do with genetic predisposition.

[@tzahi12370]

@@hormonesforme great!! A question, Do you think enclomiphene can be used on TRT to maintain your natural T levels working and fertility? And if so what doses ( every day ? Eod etc..? Thanks