A new study states that men who consume low fat diets might suffer from reduced testosterone levels

May, 2021 - By SMI

A study conducted published in The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology states that low fat diets may result cause decrease in the testosterone levels in men by 10-15%.

Testosterone is a hormone that is produced by humans, mainly men. The hormone is one of the main sexual hormones which is responsible to drive sperm production, build muscle, build bone mass, amongst many other functions. A healthy amount of testosterone levels in men is considered as one of the key factors in men’s athletic performance, in their sexual health as well as in their mental health. While a low level of testosterone is linked with higher risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes to name a few. Therefore an optimum level of testosterone hormone is critical for men’s health.

The researchers at the University of Worcester conducted a study which combined the results of a total of 206 participants with 6 well-controlled studies. The participating men were first put on a high-fat diet where fat percentage was 40%, and then shifted to a low-fat diet, with 20% fat percentage. The results showcased a decreased testosterone level of 10-15% on an average. Moreover, the participants who were on a vegetarian low-fat diet faced a 26% decreased testosterone levels on an average.

The authors also linked their results with similar studies that were conducted on mice and humans, and found that the high intakes of MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acids) found in avocados, olive oil, and nuts may drive the testosterone production. While, diets with a higher intake of Omega 6 PUFA (Omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids) may damage the cell’s ability to produce testosterone. This is because the highly unsaturated fats such as PUFA are more prone to oxidation, thus causing cell damage. The lead researcher of the study, Joseph Whittaker stated that there is a need of few more studies so as to confirm their results, however he suggested that for the time being, men with low testosterone levels should avoid low-fat diets.