Everyone knows about the effect of testosterone on muscle growth. Its level in the blood depends on various factors. Learn about the effects of bodybuilding nutrition on testosterone. Testosterone is a steroid hormone, which in the male body is produced by special cells located in the testes, and in women, the ovaries are responsible for its synthesis. Testosterone regulates the metabolism of protein compounds in muscle tissues, stimulating protein synthesis. To date, it has not yet been precisely established what effect the hormone has on the breakdown of protein compounds. In adipose tissues, the substance is able to inhibit the use of lipids by the body and the activity of lipoprotein lipase. Today, the article will focus on the effect of diet and nutrition in bodybuilding on testosterone.
Nutritional changes in testosterone levels
There have been studies on the effect of low-calorie nutritional programs in the body of healthy men on testosterone synthesis. After consuming food containing a small amount of fat, there were no significant changes in the level of the male hormone. But it was found that four hours after eating a fatty meal, the level of the hormone decreased by an average of 30%.
Scientists noted the fact that this drop in blood hormone levels had nothing to do with other hormones such as dihydrotestosterone, estrone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol. Also, there was no decrease in the sensitivity of globulin, which has the ability to bind the sex hormone. Thanks to the results obtained, it became possible to assert that fatty foods containing few carbohydrates contribute to a decrease in testosterone synthesis. This fact was confirmed in the course of other experiments, when the level of the total male hormone decreased by an average of 20%, and free by 23%.
Also, scientists have established a relationship between the consumption of food rich in protein compounds of various origins. When using lean food, testosterone levels decreased by more than 20%. It should be noted that lean meat was also included in the diet. It must be admitted that the results of this experiment are in part at odds with the previous experiment, when it was found that fatty foods contribute to a decrease in the level of the male hormone. However, it was found that the composition of food, for example, the type of fat, has a great influence on testosterone levels. After eating any type of food, a drop in testosterone content and an increase in luteinizing hormone levels were recorded. At the same time, the amount of globulin remained at the same level.
It should be noted that the study of changes in the content of testosterone after an oral glucose tolerance test. At the same time, it is important to note that almost all such experiments were carried out with the participation of women. Only one study involved men. According to his results, within two hours, the testosterone level decreased with a simultaneous increase in the content of luteinizing hormone. As mentioned above, only men participated in this study. According to the results of other similar studies, one can only judge the effect of diet and nutrition in bodybuilding on testosterone in the body of women. After the glucose tolerance test in the female body, testosterone levels also decrease. This can be partially explained by natural daily fluctuations in hormone levels.
Summing up a brief summary of studies on the effect of diet and nutrition in bodybuilding on testosterone, then we can talk about a decrease in testosterone after a meal. In the male body, this is due to a change in insulin content and the appearance of a feedback between this hormone and testosterones. In the female body, there is a positive feedback between these hormones.
Exercise-related changes in testosterone levels
When performing strength exercises, there is a sharp increase in the synthesis of the male hormone, and its peak falls on the period of completion of the movements and after one hour the content of the male hormone returns to normal.
Research has shown that drinking protein-containing drinks two hours before and after a workout boosts testosterone synthesis. In this experiment, the subjects used the same training program and nutritional supplements for three days.
The maximum decrease in the level of the male hormone was noted after the completion of the training, which may indicate the same mechanism for regulating testosterone levels. There has also been a study of the effect on testosterone levels of protein and carbohydrate supplementation alone and when combined. Nutritional supplements were consumed immediately before the start of the training and two hours after its completion. In all cases, a drop in testosterone synthesis was noted within half an hour after the completion of the training session. The level of the male hormone began to recover only after five hours.
In another experiment, the researchers wanted to establish a relationship between the consumption of mixed food and an isocaloric drink. It was noted that the content of testosterone in the body decreased after half an hour, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 hours after the end of the training session.
If we summarize the effect of diet and nutrition in bodybuilding on testosterone, then we can say that eating food before and after training can be compared with fasting. This may be due to a decrease in the production of the hormone or an increase in its metabolic clearance. You can also safely say that the drop in the level of the male hormone is not interrelated with the level of luteinizing hormone.
For this reason, we can say that the rate of testosterone production remains constant and most likely a decrease in the hormone content is associated with a decrease in the sensitivity of the testes to luteinizing hormone.
Cognitive information about testosterone in this video:
