Does Coffee Increase Testosterone?
Written by Ben Bunting: BA, PGCert. (Sport & Exercise Nutrition) // British Army Physical Training Instructor // S&C Coach.
Caffeine is a stimulant that has many health benefits, including improving athletic performance and reducing muscle weakness in elderly adults. However, there are some concerns about how coffee affects sex hormones.
Several population level and in vitro studies have reported conflicting associations between caffeine intake and testosterone levels. Moreover, results of these studies vary by race/ethnicity and body fatness.
Origin
Although the earliest known mention of coffee goes back to the 15th century, it was not until the 1800s that it began its long reign as a beverage of choice for discerning caffeine lovers.
The modern day caffeine connoisseur may choose their java of choice from a range of bean to cup options, including artisanal brews crafted in their own home. In any case, a good ol’ fashion cup of joe is still an important part of many a morning ritual.
The aforementioned beverage has been shown to improve alertness, productivity, and memory retention – all of which are vital components to a thriving work force, sports performace, military capabilities and a happy household.
But did you know that it can also raise your testosterone levels? The good news is that a daily dose of java can improve your testosterone by a few notches.
So, if you are a male or female with testosterone deficiency afflicting your sex life, it is time to buckle up, drink up and get your java on. The best time to do so is in the morning, preferably before breakfast.
Benefits of Caffeine
Coffee is a caffeine-heavy beverage that is enjoyed around the world. It is also known to promote heart health, lower cholesterol and help prevent cancers.
It is an important part of any healthy diet, and it can be consumed in moderation. It is not recommended to consume too much coffee as it can cause many unwanted side effects.
However, drinking a small cup of coffee can have a positive impact on your hormones. Specifically, it can increase testosterone levels in men and decrease estrogen levels in women.
In addition to the aforementioned benefits, coffee can also boost your energy level. It can also enhance your neuromuscular coordination, making you better able to perform tasks such as walking and climbing stairs.
One of the main ways caffeine increases testosterone is through a non-selective PDE inhibitor called PDE-4. This enzyme blocks the breakdown of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), an important hormone that communicates with the cells and plays a vital role in testosterone production.
This mechanism is important because cAMP acts as a secondary messenger between the hormones and the cells. Elevated cAMP levels lead to increased testosterone.
Caffeine can also affect other hormones, such as cortisol and estrogen. Consuming caffeine increases your cortisol levels by activating the adrenal glands, which can improve attention, alertness and the basal activity of the brain.
It can also decrease your estrogen levels by inhibiting the glucuronidation of testosterone. This occurs through the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzyme.
In addition, red wine, onions, green tea and other foods contain compounds that inhibit this enzyme. Therefore, these nutrients can keep testosterone in the body longer.
Regardless of how you decide to use coffee as a means to increase your testosterone, it is essential that you do so in moderation. You should not drink coffee in high quantities as it can cause many unwanted side effects, such as increased blood pressure and nausea.
As with most things in life, it is best to start by doing some research about your own testosterone levels and health status. This will allow you to determine the best way to tackle your hormonal deficit.
Caffeine content
Caffeine is a stimulant that has many benefits, including increased energy and enhanced athletic performance. It also has a positive effect on sex hormones, boosting testosterone and estrogen levels.
However, caffeine is also associated with some negative effects. It can raise cortisol levels, which can lead to a decrease in testosterone.
It is therefore best to avoid excessive amounts of coffee or other caffeine-containing beverages.
One study looked at the relationship between caffeine and testosterone in a sample of men from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
The researchers found that consumption of four or more cups of coffee per day was associated with higher total testosterone concentrations.
Testosterone is a hormone that plays an important role in sperm production and sexual drive.
It is also responsible for maintaining muscle mass and bone density. Having low levels of testosterone can result in erectile dysfunction and infertility.
The amount of caffeine that can be safely consumed is 400 mg per day. This is the equivalent of around four cups of coffee. If you want to increase your testosterone, it's best to consume your caffeine before workouts.
Another study looked at the link between coffee and hormones in healthy men. The researchers found that caffeine was associated with an increase in SHBG, testosterone and estradiol.
This study was limited by its small sample size, but it is still a helpful contribution to our understanding of the effects of coffee on hormones.
There are numerous alternative studies on the impact of coffee on male hormones, but the research has been mixed. Some studies have shown that it can increase testosterone, while others have shown it can cause a decrease in estrogen levels.
In a Danish study, mothers who consumed more than three cups of coffee each day during pregnancy had sons who had lower testosterone levels than those who drank less.
This may be because the mother's body has already produced more testosterone than the child's body needs, but it also could mean that consuming too much caffeine during pregnancy is detrimental to the baby's health.
Similarly, a study in women showed that caffeine can affect estrogen levels. Women who drank 200 mg of caffeine daily had lower estrogen levels than those who drank less.
It's important to remember that many study protocols are different which can affect results and outcomes, in return this means that the answer is never 100% clear cut.
The effects of caffeine on sex hormones are still under investigation. The results of these studies are mixed and inconclusive, but it's important to remember that coffee has a lot of other benefits.
The Effects of Testosterone
Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in males and helps regulate multiple processes, including muscle mass, fat distribution, and red blood cell production. It also has anti-aging properties.
Coffee may increase testosterone levels by acting as an aromatase inhibitor that boosts the synthesis of this hormone.
It can also act as a non-selective PDE inhibitor that stops an enzyme from breaking down cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP).
CAMP is the messenger between the hormones and cells, and it communicates important information about how to produce them.
Conclusion
Testosterone is a hormone that plays a key role in male reproductive and sexual development, as well as muscle mass, bone density, and red blood cell formation.
Having low testosterone levels can lead to problems like erectile dysfunction and infertility, as well as lower sex drive.
Caffeine is a stimulant that increases cortisol secretion in the body, which can affect testosterone levels. This is why some doctors believe that drinking caffeine can help boost testosterone levels in men.
The effects of caffeine on testosterone vary by gender and are affected by other factors, such as diet, exercise, sleep, stress, and supplement use.
There are no concrete scientific studies that can say for sure if caffeine causes any changes in hormones, but there is enough evidence to suggest that it does.
Researchers investigated the relationship between sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and endogenous sex hormone concentrations in 2581 men and women who consumed caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
They found that there was an inverse association between SHBG and total testosterone concentrations in men, but no such relationship with estrogen levels in women.
This study used a cross-sectional design, so it cannot draw definitive cause-and-effect conclusions.
However, it does support the idea that coffee and caffeine may affect sex hormone levels and that this relationship can be explained by the sex-steroid hormone axis.
More research is needed to better understand the interplay between these two substances.
