Bloods taken before and after nine months, and the changes are large enough that I want to understand which are cause and which are consequence.
The narrow version of the question is why total and free can move differently here, and which of the two is worth tracking.
I would rather have one careful answer than five confident ones.
mel_PDX said:Bloods taken before and after nine months, and the changes are large enough that I want to understand which are cause and which are consequence.
Hormone panel changes on the hormone panel — relevant for anyone curious about endocrine effects:
- Testosterone: increased 35% (weight loss reduces aromatase in adipose tissue)
- Estradiol: normalized from elevated baseline
- SHBG: increased appropriately
- Free testosterone: increased 22%
- Cortisol AM: within normal limits, no significant change
My reproductive endocrinologist says the testosterone improvement alone could explain the energy and mood benefits I've experienced.
Dr.NutriCornell said:Hormone panel changes on the hormone panel — relevant for anyone curious about endocrine effects: Testosterone: increased 35% (weight loss reduces…
HPA axis assessment on the hormone panel: rarely ordered but informative for understanding the stress-metabolism connection:
4-point salivary cortisol:
- Morning: 19 ng/mL → 13 ng/mL (improved)
- Noon: 9 ng/mL → 6 ng/mL
- Evening: 5 ng/mL → 2 ng/mL
- Night: 3 ng/mL → 1 ng/mL
The cortisol curve is normalizing — less flat, better diurnal variation. Reduced visceral fat = reduced cortisol overproduction. The metabolic benefits cascade into stress hormone regulation.
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View Resultsmel_PDX said:Bloods taken before and after nine months, and the changes are large enough that I want to understand which are cause and which are consequence.
Can confirm. Same sequence, different timescale. The detail I would add is minor and it is already implied above.
From the other side of the consultation, briefly.
Sex hormone labs after weight loss on the hormone panel — for the men in this thread:
Testosterone: 302 → 542 ng/dL (dramatic improvement!)
Free T: 5.7 → 14.2 ng/dL
Estradiol: 49 → 28 pg/mL
SHBG: 24 → 48 nmol/L
Visceral fat contains aromatase which converts testosterone to estrogen. As you lose visceral fat, this conversion decreases and testosterone naturally rises. I feel 10 years younger.