Vitamin D and Testosterone Levels

Of several vitamins known to boost your testosterone level, vitamin D is the most important for men.

Vitamin D is known to support testosterone production. Most men do not get enough vitamin D through sunlight. A vitamin D deficiency can influence low testosterone. Men who have been diagnosed with low testosterone and are on testosterone replacement therapy certainly should add vitamin D to their regimen.

What Is Vitamin D?

Most vitamins, such as vitamin B and C, are nutrients. But, vitamin D is something different. Vitamin D is not a nutrient; it acts more like a hormone. It is responsible for stimulating the production of other critical hormones such as testosterone.

Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin D is naturally present in only a very few foods. It is added to milk and some others. Sunlight also triggers your body to make vitamin D.

Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and promote bone growth. Vitamin D has also been linked to testosterone levels. Many men with low testosterone have also been found to be vitamin D deficient.

Why Is Vitamin D So Important to Men?

Vitamin D is very important for men. It is essential for the way your body uses calcium, which makes it crucial for strong teeth and healthy bones. Vitamin D is also a powerful anti-oxidant. In several studies, vitamin D was shown to prevent the development of certain auto-immune and other degenerative diseases. Some studies suggest it may even reduce the risk of some cancers. Vitamin D also helps to build muscle, and it has been shown to possibly reduce the risk of heart disease.

But perhaps the most important thing about vitamin D and men’s health is its relationship with testosterone. Identifying this relationship between vitamin D and testosterone has been a vital medical breakthrough. Doctors know that it is normal for a man’s testosterone level to decrease the older that he gets. There is research to suggest that it may be possible that vitamin D supplementation can help make up age-related testosterone loss.

Vitamin D Deficiency Can Lead to Reduced Production of Testosterone

There have been several studies that indicate a link between low levels of vitamin D and low testosterone in men. However, doctors are not really sure why.

Current research seems to suggest that there is something about testosterone production that requires the presence of vitamin D. In this way, vitamin D is what doctors refer to as a “precursor” for testosterone production.

Identifying a relationship between vitamin D and testosterone is a vital medical breakthrough. Doctors know that it is normal for a man’s testosterone level to decrease the older that he gets. There is research to suggest that it may be possible that vitamin D supplementation can help make up age-related testosterone loss.

This research certainly suggests that vitamin D is one of the most important supplements to take by men over the age of 40.

What Are the Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency?

Both men and women with vitamin D deficiencies have reported sexual wellness issues, including low libido and sex drive. This is likely due to the link between vitamin D and testosterone levels mentioned above.

Other signs of a vitamin D deficiency include:

• Fatigue and lack of energy
• Joint pain and muscle aches
• Mood swings and increased irritability
• Increased feelings of depression and anxiety

Since vitamin D is not present in very many foods, and not all of us spend as much time in the sun as we should, vitamin D deficiencies are not uncommon. There are also certain groups of people who are more likely to suffer from a vitamin D deficiency, such as:

• Vegans and vegetarians since they eat very few vitamin D rich foods
• People who are overweight or have diabetes
• Senior citizens and other people who tend to spend more time indoors
• Darker-skinned people
• Individuals with any disease or metabolic condition that interferes with the absorption of fat

The only way to know for sure if you are lacking in vitamin D is to see your doctor and have your blood tested for your level of vitamin D.

Can Vitamin D Restore Low Testosterone Levels?

Research has shown that testosterone levels and vitamin D levels are directly proportional. In other words, men with low vitamin D in the blood tend to have low testosterone and vice versa.

So, does that mean that increasing your vitamin D could also raise your testosterone levels? Research seems to indicate that the answer is “yes.” In a 2011 randomized controlled study, researchers found men who were given a daily high-dose vitamin D supplement significantly increased their total testosterone levels. There have been several other studies that indicate a positive link between vitamin D intake and testosterone levels.

What Does the Medical Research Say About Vitamin D Supplementation?

Of all the research into vitamins and herbal supplements that can enhance testosterone production, the most significant are the studies that provide evidence for the link between vitamin D and testosterone levels.

A recent study featuring in the Trusted sourceVitamin D and sex steroid production in men with normal or impaired Leydig cell functionPubMedGo to sourceJournal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology found a distinct association between vitamin D levels and testosterone. The study determined that men with a vitamin D deficiency had lower testosterone levels than those without a deficiency.

Several other studies have shown an independent association between vitamin D intake and testosterone. For example:

• A cross-sectional study observed a correlation between vitamin D and testosterone in women.
• One study shows an increase in levels of testosterone after providing high-dose, long-term vitamin D supplements to vitamin D-deficient men.
• Another study observed no increase in testosterone after providing Vitamin D-deficient men with short-term vitamin D supplementation.

However, there have also been some conflicting studies about the ability of vitamin D supplementation to raise testosterone levels. In a 2015 study, Dutch researchers completed a meta-analysis of three intervention studies investigating the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum testosterone concentrations in vitamin D-deficient subjects. As expected, the concentrations of vitamin D increased substantially. However, there was no corresponding increase in mean testosterone concentrations at the end of any of the three studies. As a result, the researchers concluded that vitamin D supplementation was not associated with an increase in testosterone levels.

It is important to note, however, that the men in the Dutch study already had normal testosterone levels. Overall, research indicates that vitamin D is beneficial to testosterone production. Both vitamin D and testosterone are essential to a man’s health and performance. All men should think about supplementing vitamin D to avoid vitamin D deficiency. However, the conflicting research seems to indicate that vitamin D can only increase testosterone levels in men that are already testosterone deficient. Therefore it is recommended that men diagnosed with low testosterone supplement with vitamin D, even if they are undergoing testosterone replacement therapy.

Now that you know a lot more about the relationship between vitamin D and testosterone, why not contact us today and learn more about the many life-changing benefits of testosterone therapy.