Decreasing masculinity as a result of global malnutrition and modern, industrialized life?
There is general agreement that male serum testosterone levels decline with age, the rates of decline are different, ranging from 0.2 to 0.8%/yr, and some have even failed to observe a significant decrease in testosterone levels with increasing age (1).
However recent studies have shown steeper age-related decline in serum testosterone (2,3). A suggested explanation has been that poor health might accelerate an age-related decline of testosterone (4).
Alternatively, bias occurred due to a higher proportion of healthy men, compared with the younger age ranges, implying that unhealthy men are less likely to become old (4).
However, yet another alternative explanation could be that a decline in testosterone levels exists, because men studied 20 yr ago had higher serum testosterone levels than men of the same age studied today (1).
However recent studies have shown steeper age-related decline in serum testosterone (2,3). A suggested explanation has been that poor health might accelerate an age-related decline of testosterone (4).
Alternatively, bias occurred due to a higher proportion of healthy men, compared with the younger age ranges, implying that unhealthy men are less likely to become old (4).
However, yet another alternative explanation could be that a decline in testosterone levels exists, because men studied 20 yr ago had higher serum testosterone levels than men of the same age studied today (1).
Loss of serum testosterone is thought to be a feature of male chronological aging. And Low-serum testosterone has been associated with numerous age-related adverse health conditions including abdominal obesity, diabetes, and prediabetic states (such as insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and metabolic syndrome), dyslipidemia, low bone and muscle mass, impaired sexual function, depressed mood, frailty, and decreased quality of life (2,3).
Crude mean TT concentrations, by MMAS study wave (T1, T2, T3) with confidence bands (dotted lines). Estimates are obtained from a generalized additive model with a lowess smoothing term (1)
Multiple studies demonstrated that total testosterone levels were lower in the later (2011–2016) than in the earlier (1999–2000) cycles and in (T1: 1987–1989) vs (T2: 1995–1997). Elevated body mass index (BMI) was associated with lower TT, but the trend remained significant even among men with normal BMI (6). Overall testosterone deficiency has a prevalence of 20% among adolescent and young adult males (6).
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What are the reasons for such tremendous decline?
In last 100 years there was a major shift in the nutrition, and medicine and lifestyle of a human being.
1. Development of antibiotics.
In our bodies, beneficial bacteria protect us against viruses. In the pre-antibiotic era, symbiotic bacteria were the only defence against viral infections.
Nowadays, under the influence of antibacterial therapy, we have lost biochemical and immunogenic properties of beneficial bacteria, as there are almost no people of the pre-antibiotic era left nowadays!
The basic law of nature has been violated - symbiosis!
Our natural endemics were completely destroyed giving opportunity for pathogens to flourish, causing different health issues.
Recent studies demonstrated the connection of gut dysbiosis and testosterone deficiency.
According to the study of Liu et al showed that low serum testosterone patients tend to have an increased abundance of opportunistic pathogens, which may be related to the occurrence and development of testosterone deficiency, most probably by compromised absorption of necessary nutrients (7).
1. Development of antibiotics.
In our bodies, beneficial bacteria protect us against viruses. In the pre-antibiotic era, symbiotic bacteria were the only defence against viral infections.
Nowadays, under the influence of antibacterial therapy, we have lost biochemical and immunogenic properties of beneficial bacteria, as there are almost no people of the pre-antibiotic era left nowadays!
The basic law of nature has been violated - symbiosis!
Our natural endemics were completely destroyed giving opportunity for pathogens to flourish, causing different health issues.
Recent studies demonstrated the connection of gut dysbiosis and testosterone deficiency.
According to the study of Liu et al showed that low serum testosterone patients tend to have an increased abundance of opportunistic pathogens, which may be related to the occurrence and development of testosterone deficiency, most probably by compromised absorption of necessary nutrients (7).
2. Environmental factors
Research on Native American tribes showed that higher levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs; a component in industrial coolants, as a plasticizer, and in many other applications) in the males’ systems was associated with lower testosterone counts (8).
Other chemicals as bisphenol A (BPA; a plastic and termopaper contain huge amount of BPA) and triclosan (an antibacterial agent) have been shown to disrupt the human hormone system, either by mimicking estrogen or blocking the activity of testosterone (9). Those chemicals as they get into the environment and enter the food chain, they are very difficult to remove, they used to accumulate in the fat tissue, compromising the work of endocrine system.
Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has a big impact for the developing child! In utero exposure to antiandrogenic EDCs, particularly at a sensitive period of fetal testicular development, the so-called 'masculinization programming window (MPW)', can disturb testicular development and function (12).
Research on Native American tribes showed that higher levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs; a component in industrial coolants, as a plasticizer, and in many other applications) in the males’ systems was associated with lower testosterone counts (8).
Other chemicals as bisphenol A (BPA; a plastic and termopaper contain huge amount of BPA) and triclosan (an antibacterial agent) have been shown to disrupt the human hormone system, either by mimicking estrogen or blocking the activity of testosterone (9). Those chemicals as they get into the environment and enter the food chain, they are very difficult to remove, they used to accumulate in the fat tissue, compromising the work of endocrine system.
Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has a big impact for the developing child! In utero exposure to antiandrogenic EDCs, particularly at a sensitive period of fetal testicular development, the so-called 'masculinization programming window (MPW)', can disturb testicular development and function (12).
3. Excess sugar in the diet.
It is known fact that the sugar industry paid scientists in the 1960s to play down the link between sugar and heart disease and demonize saturated fat instead.
The internal sugar industry documents, recently discovered by a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, and published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggest that five decades of research into the role of nutrition and heart disease, including many of today’s dietary recommendations, may have been largely shaped by the sugar industry.
This historical event for decades made people avoid highly nutritios food, such as red meat, butter and egg yolks and giving free pass to cereal and sugary treats, damaging health of generations!
Sugar sweetented bevarages consumption is significantly associated with low serum testosterone in men 20-39 years old in the United States! (11)
It is known fact that the sugar industry paid scientists in the 1960s to play down the link between sugar and heart disease and demonize saturated fat instead.
The internal sugar industry documents, recently discovered by a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, and published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggest that five decades of research into the role of nutrition and heart disease, including many of today’s dietary recommendations, may have been largely shaped by the sugar industry.
This historical event for decades made people avoid highly nutritios food, such as red meat, butter and egg yolks and giving free pass to cereal and sugary treats, damaging health of generations!
Sugar sweetented bevarages consumption is significantly associated with low serum testosterone in men 20-39 years old in the United States! (11)
4. Sedentary lifestyle
With increasing modernization and urbanization obesity epidemic is now a problem worldwide.
The fact that obese men have lower testosterone compared to lean men has been recognized for more than decades.
Unfortunatelly sedentary behaviour has become an increasing part of modern life, including transportation, work, and leisure time. Other than working and sleeping, watching television and other “screen time” is the most common activity in many countries and accounts for many hours of sedentary behaviour.
With increasing modernization and urbanization obesity epidemic is now a problem worldwide.
The fact that obese men have lower testosterone compared to lean men has been recognized for more than decades.
Unfortunatelly sedentary behaviour has become an increasing part of modern life, including transportation, work, and leisure time. Other than working and sleeping, watching television and other “screen time” is the most common activity in many countries and accounts for many hours of sedentary behaviour.
5. Ignoring circadian rhythms
Human is designed in a way that allows to function according to the nature cycles.
The circadian rhythm is a mechanism that drives the internal 24 hour cycles in our body. When properly aligned, a circadian rhythm can promote consistent and restorative sleep.
But when this circadian rhythm is thrown off, it can create significant sleeping problems, including insomnia. Studies demonstrate that circadian rhythms play an integral role in many aspects of physical and mental health.
For circadian rhythms to work properly we need enough sun exposure and also darkness during our sleep!
Lack of normal sleep decreases leptin (the satiety hormone) and increases ghrelin (hunger hormone).
Unfortunately modern life disrupts our cycles by sedentary lifestyle and contamination of artificial lights and gadgets.
There is a direct link between lack of sleep and not enough sun exposure on the level of testosterone (10)
Human is designed in a way that allows to function according to the nature cycles.
The circadian rhythm is a mechanism that drives the internal 24 hour cycles in our body. When properly aligned, a circadian rhythm can promote consistent and restorative sleep.
But when this circadian rhythm is thrown off, it can create significant sleeping problems, including insomnia. Studies demonstrate that circadian rhythms play an integral role in many aspects of physical and mental health.
For circadian rhythms to work properly we need enough sun exposure and also darkness during our sleep!
Lack of normal sleep decreases leptin (the satiety hormone) and increases ghrelin (hunger hormone).
Unfortunately modern life disrupts our cycles by sedentary lifestyle and contamination of artificial lights and gadgets.
There is a direct link between lack of sleep and not enough sun exposure on the level of testosterone (10)
6. Nutritional deficiencies
Last but not least important factor is Nutrition that provide us with building blocks not only for rebuilding tissues but for proper work of all organs and systems, including hormonal system.
Nutrients deficiencies will not allow to make testosterone, as the substrate (the sourse) for biochemical reactions in the body is essential
What we eat is important!
for example testicular development is sensitive to a soy-based diet in the neonatal period.
Approximately 30% of infants in the United States are exposed to high doses of isoflavones resulting from soy infant formula consumption. Soybeans contain the isoflavones genistin and daidzin, which are hydrolyzed in the gastrointestinal tract to their genistein and daidzein aglycones. Both aglycones possess hormonal activity and may interfere with male reproductive development (13)
#nutrition #health #menshealth #testosterone
Last but not least important factor is Nutrition that provide us with building blocks not only for rebuilding tissues but for proper work of all organs and systems, including hormonal system.
Nutrients deficiencies will not allow to make testosterone, as the substrate (the sourse) for biochemical reactions in the body is essential
What we eat is important!
for example testicular development is sensitive to a soy-based diet in the neonatal period.
Approximately 30% of infants in the United States are exposed to high doses of isoflavones resulting from soy infant formula consumption. Soybeans contain the isoflavones genistin and daidzin, which are hydrolyzed in the gastrointestinal tract to their genistein and daidzein aglycones. Both aglycones possess hormonal activity and may interfere with male reproductive development (13)
#nutrition #health #menshealth #testosterone