Vitamin D and Testosterone

liverock Sat Jan 09, 2010 1:11 am

Just joined so if this has come up before please forgive me.

Up until now there have been no studies done on humans with regard to vitD and changes in T levels.

This first one at first glance appears to be bad news for hair loss sufferers.

Increased T, lower SHBG and increase FAI, all the things that increase hair loss.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20050857?

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2009 Dec 29. [Epub ahead of print]

Association of vitamin D status with serum androgen levels in men.
Wehr E, Pilz S, Boehm BO, März W, Obermayer-Pietsch B.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.

Abstract Objective: Studies in rodents indicate a role of vitamin D in male reproduction but the relationship between vitamin D and androgen levels in men is largely unexplored. We aimed to investigate the association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels with testosterone, FAI (free androgen index), and SHBG. Moreover, we examined whether androgen levels show a similar seasonal variation to 25(OH)D. Design: In this cross-sectional study, 25(OH)D, testosterone, and SHBG levels were assessed by immunoassay in 2299 men who were routinely referred for coronary angiography (1997-2000). Measurements: Main outcome measures were associations of 25(OH)D levels with testosterone, SHBG, and FAI. FAI was calculated as testosterone (nmol/l)/SHBG (nmol/l) x 100. Results: Men with sufficient 25(OH)D levels (>/=30 mug/l) had significantly higher levels of testosterone and FAI and significantly lower levels of SHBG when compared to 25(OH)D insufficient (20-29.9 mug/l) and 25(OH)D deficient (<20 mug/l) men (p<0.05 for all). In linear regression analyses adjusted for possible confounders, we found significant associations of 25(OH)D levels with testosterone, FAI, and SHBG levels (p<0.05 for all). 25(OH)D, testosterone, and FAI levels followed a similar seasonal pattern with a nadir in March (12.2 mug/l, 15.9 nmol/l, and 40.8, respectively) and peak levels in August (23.4 mug/l, 18.7 nmol/l, and 49.7, respectively) (p<0.05 for all). Conclusion: Androgen levels and 25(OH)D levels are associated in men and reveal a concordant seasonal variation. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on androgen levels.

Misirlou Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:06 am

Could the same conclusion be drawn when looking at Vit D3 ?

johnt Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:43 am

They're basing it on 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in the body -- so D3 would probably make it more pronounced. Right?

The results aren't surprising. Sunshine increases testosterone levels -- not sure why people are so fearful of increased T? To me the results are like a fountain of youth. What would be good? Decreased T levels so that we feel like crap?

Misirlou Sat Jan 09, 2010 4:42 am

Wouldn't increase in T lead to more DHT by that shitty little enzyme we seem to have in endless quantities? Or perhaps it's bound in the blood or something?

CausticSymmetry Sat Jan 09, 2010 6:18 am

Having an increase in testosterone and lowering SHBG is an extremely beneficial thing--for most age groups. However, I very much doubt it will lower SHBG in the target age group that suffers from MPB due to low SHBG, such as in the late teens to early 20's.

Having a higher testosterone level is a sign of strong health, yet when testosterone levels plummet, DHT is expressed to a greater capacity.

Ultimately, what vitamin D does is improve glucose metabolism, which in effect raises testosterone levels, and I would not be the least bit surprised if it increased SHBG in the targeted age group that is prone to low SHBG.

tooyoung Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:42 am

So late teens won't have any hair benefits from vit d? We will still get the other health benefits though right?

CausticSymmetry Sun Jan 10, 2010 4:14 am

tooyoung wrote:So late teens won't have any hair benefits from vit d? We will still get the other health benefits though right?

Vitamin D is good for everybody, including late teens.

Low SHBG can be caused from poor blood sugar metabolism. Vitamin D improves glucose metabolism.

tooyoung Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:35 am

Correct if I'm wrong, which I probably am. But I always assumed increases in testosterone led to the body ageing to look like a mans, more body hair, less head hair, which is why I am balding. Does an increase of testosterone not equal hair loss?

Paradox Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:18 am

tooyoung wrote:Correct if I'm wrong, which I probably am. But I always assumed increases in testosterone led to the body ageing to look like a mans, more body hair, less head hair, which is why I am balding. Does an increase of testosterone not equal hair loss?

Tooyoung,

It only leads to hairloss because of increased amounts of dht, and *only* if you are genetically predisposed to male pattern loss. That is why some body builders inject huge amounts of Test and other androgens and have no hair loss whatsoever. Testosterone is a very important and good hormone. Even DHT which we try to block is needed in the body. It provides a sense of well being among other things. That is one reason that blocking DHT with finasteride can increase anxiety. Another reason is that when you block DHT it results in more Test conversion to Estrogen. This is also bad for men, and can create lots of problems.

So basically what I am saying is that you are not balding because you have high levels of Test. You are balding because your hair follicles are super 'sensitive' to DHT. You don't want to lower your Test because it is vital for health and wellbeing.

CausticSymmetry Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:36 am

One definition of aging is a decrease in hormone production.

Less testosterone equals diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and so on.

In the young, it's low levels of SHBG, allowing plenty of DHT. As we age, SHBG increases, and often it gets too high the older we get, accumulating more estrogen. Balance is key with SHBG.

Free radicals increase DHT, but decrease Testosterone.

Inhibiting 5-alpha reductase prevents synthesis of neurosteroids, which help regulate mood.

The focus instead I believe should be containment of free-radicals, and inflammatory proteins.

johnt Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:29 pm

tooyoung wrote:Correct if I'm wrong, which I probably am. But I always assumed increases in testosterone led to the body ageing to look like a mans, more body hair, less head hair, which is why I am balding. Does an increase of testosterone not equal hair loss?

And let's not forget that we typically peak in testosterone somewhere in our twenties. Right when we are (or should be) in our prime as far as strength, libido, metabolism, and other positive attributes. Beyond this point we lose levels of testosterone (and increase estrogen) -- note, it is typically during the years that our bodies testosterone levels are decreasing that we start to get the fat midsections, the reduced metabolism, the decreased libido, hairloss, gray hair, and other negative attributes. Not sure about anyone else, but I'd rather experience the attributes corresponding to peak testosterone than those where test is on the decline.

jimmy69 Mon Jan 11, 2010 2:12 pm

I started taking 6000iu of vitamin d a day, to my surprise after a month the sexual side affects that i was suffering from taking finasteride were not only gone but i was left hornier than Ive ever been in my life! My erections have been rock solid, i have erotic dreams and my seamen has gone from water to molasses again. These are side effects that i have been suffering from for 4 or 5 years since i started FIN, all wiped out in a month! I even backed off the vitamin d for a month to make sure i wasn't crazy and sure enough the old symptoms came back.

Now i am worried that vitamin d is raising my DHT levels. Is this possibly whats going on?? I'm still taking finasteride.

CausticSymmetry Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:23 pm

jimmy69 - I've been taking 6,000 IU of Vitamin D for a while now and it does not increase DHT, it will however help increase your lifespan, improve sugar metabolism and significantly reduce calcification.

jimmy69 Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:36 pm

Hi Caustic, can you say for sure vitamin d doesn't effect DHT at all?

Do you keep close tabs on your DHT levels? is that how you know?

Guest Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:20 pm

Hey CS-

What is your thoughts about liquid vitamin D?

CausticSymmetry Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:57 pm

jimmy69 wrote:Hi Caustic, can you say for sure vitamin d doesn't effect DHT at all?

Do you keep close tabs on your DHT levels? is that how you know?

There hasn't been a lot of study using DHT with standard vitamin D3, but instead analogs of vitamin D have been evaluated in menopausal women with respect to maintaining bone density.

Vitamin D does inhibit growth of androgen-dependent, aggressive prostate cancer cell growth. This is a possible indication that it has a positive effect. However, more research is need to get the full picture.

In my view it doesn't make any sense to be unhealthy just to keep DHT low, just as it is unwise to suppress the immune system to fight an autoimmune disease, which is unfortunately, standard protocol by orthodox medicine.

Considering that vitamin D helps to reduce calcification significantly and that DHT seems to cause calcification, adds further weight that vitamin D is a good idea. It's already known that it decreases all-cause mortality rates.

1..... - As far as a liquid is concerned, I find them generally more expensive that capsule form.

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