Some people have called testosterone the hormone of desire. So yes, low testosterone can cause decreased libido, but the bigger issue is aging. The process of aging is largely a tissue breakdown or catabolic process.
Testosterone, on the other hand, is anabolic or tissue-building. It promotes building body tissues like muscle, skin, and bone for both men and women.
Men with low testosterone double their risk of metabolic syndrome. Since testosterone protects brain cells, men with low levels of free testosterone are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Common Causes of Low Testosterone and How Hormones Work
What are some of the reasons for low testosterone?
- Stress is a major factor.
- Long-term chronic stresses caused by poor lifestyle
- Ongoing psychological stress
- Heavy metals
- Toxins
- Inflammation and infection will decrease testosterone
However, short-term stress—such as exercise—can actually increase testosterone.
Let’s look at a simplified chart on how testosterone is made:
- The starting point is cholesterol!
- Cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone.
- Some of the pregnenolone is converted to progesterone and some to DHEA.
Following the progesterone pathway, we need progesterone to make adrenal hormones. So if you are extremely stressed out, the pregnenolone might be shunted or rerouted to make adrenal hormones, specifically cortisol. This is called the Pregnenolone or Cortisol Steal, because the body “steals” pregnenolone away from other hormone pathways to make cortisol.
Now look at the other pathway for pregnenolone: DHEA. This is where things get interesting.
- DHEA is converted to androstenedione.
- Progesterone also converts to androstenedione.
- Androstenedione converts to testosterone or the female hormone estrone.
Testosterone can then be converted to DHT or estradiol. You can see from this chart that too much testosterone can enable the pathway to DHT.
- Increases of DHT are related to prostate cancer.
- Too much testosterone can also lead to excess estradiol, another potential cancer-causing agent.
Excess insulin encourages androstenedione to convert to estrone and blocks the conversion to testosterone. This is one more reason to make sure your patient is on an anti-inflammatory diet which addresses dysglycemia.
You can now see why patients taking exogenous testosterone or any other hormone should be evaluated on a regular basis.
Natural Testosterone Boosters: Adaptogens and Lifestyle Changes
Personally, I prefer adaptogenic compounds that feed the pathways needed to make hormones rather than giving exogenous hormones.
Adaptogens are natural substances that provide precursors and cofactors the body needs to return itself to physiologic balance.
One such adaptogenic compound is b-VITAL.
- b-VITAL contains 750 mg of Peruvian Maca and 50 mg of velvet deer antler from living elk.
- Maca has been used safely as food in Peru for thousands of years and is a natural precursor to testosterone.
Men and women have used Peruvian Maca to increase endurance, fertility, and virility. It is also used for menopausal support in women.
Velvet Deer Antler has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its revitalizing effect, especially for those weakened by illness or stress.
A preliminary study of men aged 45–55 found that supplementation with b-VITAL for 30 days increased salivary free testosterone in 100% of subjects. My experience matches the preliminary study in both men and women; b-VITAL consistently increases saliva levels of free testosterone at 3 capsules twice daily (bid). I generally suggest decreasing the dose to 1 bid after a few months.
Don’t forget: High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) also increases growth hormone and downstream hormones like testosterone, while reducing insulin.
Additional Natural Support for Testosterone Production
While we are talking about exercise, you can see studies showing that Ashwagandha (as in Bio Ashwagandha) combined with resistance training resulted in a fourfold increase in testosterone compared to controls who only exercised.
Another consideration is Gammanol Forte.
- In one study, 10 out of 10 menopausal women taking Gammanol Forte (2 capsules three times a day for 5 weeks) showed increases in growth hormone;
- 8 out of 10 had significant increases.
All three of these products are adaptogens.
- Ashwagandha
- Components in b-VITAL
- Gammanol Forte (from a rice bran extract)
If you decide to do testing and find you need a DHEA product, Biotics makes two low-dose DHEA products in 5 mg and 10 mg doses.
You can see the hormone chart discussed earlier to better understand these pathways and additional considerations.
More and more baby boomers are looking for ways to enhance their life quotient.
In today’s evolving health care system, I encourage you to become an expert in the things people truly want and need.