by Joseph Whittaker
Abstract:
A recent meta-analysis found low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets (> 3.4 g/kg of bodyweight/day) (g/kg/day) decreased men's total testosterone (∼5.23 nmol/L) [Whittaker and Harris (2022) Low-carbohydrate diets and men's cortisol and testosterone: systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition and Health. DOI: 10.1177/02601060221083079]. This finding has generated substantial discussion, however, it has often lacked clarity and context, with the term 'high-protein' being used unqualified. Firstly, diets < 3.4 g/kg/day are not associated with a consistent decrease in testosterone. Secondly, the average protein intake is ∼1.3 g/kg/day, conventional 'high-protein' diets are ∼1.8-3 g/kg/day and the vast majority of athletes are < 3.4 g/kg/day; meaning very few individuals will ever surpass 3.4 g/kg/day. To avoid such confusion in the future, the following definitions are proposed: very high (> 3.4 g/kg/day), high (1.9-3.4 g/kg/day), moderate (1.25-1.9 g/kg/day) and low (<1.25 g/kg/day). Using these, very high-protein diets (> 3.4 g/kg/day) appear to decrease testosterone, however high- and moderate-protein diets (1.25-3.4 g/kg/day) do not.
Reference:
High-protein diets and testosterone. (Joseph Whittaker), In Nutr Health, 2022.
Bibtex Entry:
@article{Whittaker:2022aa,
abstract = {A recent meta-analysis found low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets (> 3.4 g/kg of bodyweight/day) (g/kg/day) decreased men's total testosterone (∼5.23 nmol/L) [Whittaker and Harris (2022) Low-carbohydrate diets and men's cortisol and testosterone: systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition and Health. DOI: 10.1177/02601060221083079]. This finding has generated substantial discussion, however, it has often lacked clarity and context, with the term 'high-protein' being used unqualified. Firstly, diets < 3.4 g/kg/day are not associated with a consistent decrease in testosterone. Secondly, the average protein intake is ∼1.3 g/kg/day, conventional 'high-protein' diets are ∼1.8-3 g/kg/day and the vast majority of athletes are < 3.4 g/kg/day; meaning very few individuals will ever surpass 3.4 g/kg/day. To avoid such confusion in the future, the following definitions are proposed: very high (> 3.4 g/kg/day), high (1.9-3.4 g/kg/day), moderate (1.25-1.9 g/kg/day) and low (<1.25 g/kg/day). Using these, very high-protein diets (> 3.4 g/kg/day) appear to decrease testosterone, however high- and moderate-protein diets (1.25-3.4 g/kg/day) do not.},
address = {The School of Allied Health and Community, 8709University of Worcester, UK.},
auid = {ORCID: 0000-0002-4635-888X},
author = {Whittaker, Joseph},
crdt = {2022/10/21 01:43},
date = {2022 Oct 20},
date-added = {2023-01-07 09:46:42 +0000},
date-modified = {2023-01-16 20:57:13 +0000},
dep = {20221020},
doi = {10.1177/02601060221132922},
edat = {2022/10/22 06:00},
issn = {0260-1060 (Print); 0260-1060 (Linking)},
jid = {8306569},
journal = {Nutr Health},
jt = {Nutrition and health},
keywords = {Protein},
language = {eng},
lid = {10.1177/02601060221132922 {$[$}doi{$]$}},
lr = {20221021},
mhda = {2022/10/22 06:00},
month = {Oct},
oto = {NOTNLM},
own = {NLM},
pages = {2601060221132922},
phst = {2022/10/21 01:43 {$[$}entrez{$]$}; 2022/10/22 06:00 {$[$}pubmed{$]$}; 2022/10/22 06:00 {$[$}medline{$]$}},
pl = {England},
pmid = {36266956},
pst = {aheadofprint},
pt = {Journal Article},
sb = {IM},
status = {Publisher},
title = {High-protein diets and testosterone.},
url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/02601060221132922},
year = {2022},
bdsk-url-1 = {https://doi.org/10.1177/02601060221132922},
bdsk-url-2 = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/02601060221132922}}