In a new study from Sichuan University, researchers found that having a diet high in pro-inflammatory foods—including foods that contain refined carbohydrates and sugar as well as polyunsaturated fats—may be linked to a higher risk of testosterone deficiency among men.
The risk of testosterone deficiency is greatest in men who are obese and consume a refined diet that scores high on the dietary inflammatory index (DII).
The findings suggest a pro-inflammatory diet can contribute to testosterone deficiency, among other potentially debilitating health issues.
Testosterone is a male sex hormone that plays important roles in reproduction and sexual function. However, 20% to 50% of US men have testosterone deficiency—defined as a testosterone level less than 300 ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter).
Symptoms of testosterone deficiency may include low libido, decreased energy, poor concentration and depression.
Testosterone deficiency is also linked to chronic diseases, including heart disease and obesity.
In the study, the team examined the link between the DII and testosterone deficiency in 4,151 men, all of whom completed a 24-hour dietary interview and underwent sex hormone testing.
Calculated DII scores ranged from -5.05 (most anti-inflammatory) to +5.48 (most pro-inflammatory).
The average total testosterone level was 410.42 ng/dL in men with the most pro-inflammatory diet versus 422.71 ng/dL in those with the most anti-inflammatory diet.
Overall, about 26% of the men had testosterone deficiency.
For men with the most pro-inflammatory diet, the odds of testosterone deficiency were about 30% higher compared to men with the most anti-inflammatory diet.
The team also found the risk of testosterone deficiency was greatest in men who were obese and had a higher DII.
For this group, the odds of testosterone deficiency were nearly 60% higher compared to men with obesity who had a lower DII.
The results suggest men who eat a pro-inflammatory diet, particularly those who are obese, are more likely to have testosterone deficiency.
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The study is published in The Journal of Urology. One author of the study is Qiu Shi, MD.
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