Here is a study that concludes that the prostate doesn’t affect circulating DHT levels.
jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/conten … 88/11/5207
Based on these results we can deduce the following.
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3-adiolG is circulating DHT that is metabolized by the liver. If the DHT that is metabolized is not from the prostate it does not show if our prostates are or are not expressing 5arII. The biggest effect finasteride has is on the prostate reducing 5arII activity there.
This more or less debunks the 3adiolG levels theory. At best 3adiolG shows DHT metabolism on tissues outside of the prostate. -
Based on 3adiolG or DHT serum levels, we do not know if our prostates are producing DHT. In other studies it is shown that while on finasteride DHT levels in the prostate are decreased ten fold, whereas testosterone levels are increased 10 fold. The problem is that testosterone is a weaker androgen than DHT. So after we quit, we do not know if DHT levels increase in the prostate and test levels decrease. It would be nice to get biopsies of our prostates to see what the hormone and 5arII levels are in it, but I understand it is not practical.