Testosterone

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Testosterone Testosterone is an anabolic/androgenic hormone. Naturally produced in both men and women. Men: Testis and Adrenal Cortex Women: Adrenal Cortex Function Increased body growth Increased deposition of bone salts Adult levels stimulate epiphyseal plate closure Postnatal increases contributes to larger fibers from induction of muscle protein accretion SHBG Protein Binding More binding less free testosterone Bioavailable Testosterone Increased by diets high in fat and protein Decreased in vegan diets (as is IGF-I) Decreased in diets high in carbs Decreased if soy protein is substituted for meat protein Habito RC, Montalto J, Leslie E, Ball MJ (2000). Effects of replacing meat with soyabean in the diet on sex hormone concentrations in healthy adult males. Br J Nutr. 84(4):557-63. Percentage free is 1.6 to 2.9 percent Male Free Testosterone Level Age 20-40 40-50 50-60 70+ ng/ml 400-1080 350-890 250-750 250-650 Testosterone Production Pituitary secretes Lutenizing Hormone (LH) affects Testes Cholesterol -> Pregnenolone -> Progesterone -> Aldosterone (mineral balance) -> Cortisol (stress) -> Androstenedione See Androstenedione's conversion below -> DHEA -> Androstenedione -> Estrone <-> Testosterone Free (active) decreases with SHBG (see below) Bound (inactive) Sex Hormone Binding Globuline (SHBG) Increases with age Increases with high estrogen brought about by blood sugar imbalance -> Dihydrotestoterone (DHT) -> Estradiol About one percent of testosterone is converted to estrogen Defects Resulting in Low Testosterone Symptoms Elevated Stress increases Cortisol suppresses Pituitary function decreases Luteinizing Hormone (LH) decreases testosterone production 'Pregnenolone Steal' during chronic stress body favors Cortisol production over sex hormone production for survival increased blood sugar (see below) Blood Sugar Imbalances increases Progesterone -> Androstenedione -> Estrone Androstenedione is weak androgen 5 times weaker than testosterone competes with testosterone for binding on androgen receptors Higher Estrone to testosterone balance causes further insulin secretions in body normal testosterone Estrogen increases SHBG decreases free testosterone Impaired Liver Detoxificaiton impedes estrogen's breakdown half life of testosterone: 7 minutes half life of estrogen: hours increases estrogen : testosterone ratio Increased Dihydrotestoterone (DHT) production 5-delta Desaturase converts testosterone to DHT DHT has 10 times stronger infinity to receptor as compared to testosterone leads to receptor resistance to testosterone Dietary Deficiencies Zinc Low Zinc decreases testosterone production Low stomach acid decreases absorption of zinc Diagnostics Get tested if you have symptoms of low testosterone Many defects possible creating low testosterone symptoms many may not require hormone replacement normal testosterone but low testosterone symptoms Testosterone Male hormone panel includes total and free testosterone estrogens (estrione, estradiol, estriol) androstenedione sex hormone binding globulin DHEA DHT Lutenizing hormone. Cortisol Adrenal salivary panel Salivary testing can be used for male hormones See more information on Endogenous Testosterone