Omega-3 and testosterone: DHA increases testosterone levels in men

A study in a group of overweight and obese men shows that intake of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA increases the concentration of testosterone in the blood.

New confirmation is arriving of the positive effects of fish oil on male fertility, particularly on testosterone levels in men, the most important hormone regarding sexuality, but not only that: it affects vitality, good health, protects against metabolic diseases, and helps improve mood. The study was conducted by a team of Australian and New Zealand researchers, and published in the journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes & Essential Fatty Acids.

Testosterone

Testosterone is the main male sex hormone and plays an important role in the development of the reproductive organs and the promotion of other characteristics, such as increased bone and muscle mass and hair growth. In addition, testosterone is involved in general health and well-being; insufficient levels of this hormone in men are linked to a wide range of disorders and diseases such as infertility, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Testosterone increases only in men, study shows

The researchers gave a cohort of 61 overweight and obese adults between 38 and 63 years old 860 mg of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and 120 mg of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) daily for 12 weeks, while the control group took capsules containing corn oil. A fasting blood sample was collected before and after the procedure, after which a higher total testosterone level was found in males who received the DHA-enriched capsules, and no effect in the control group. The study was initially aimed at testing the effect on insulin levels in people with weight problems, but upon analyzing the results, the scholars realized that in addition to reducing insulin levels in both men and women, the supplements had another effect: increased testosterone levels in men only. In women who participated in the study, in fact, levels of the hormone-which is also present in females at lower levels-were unaffected.

Male Fertility and Omega-3

Several studies have investigated the role of Omega-3s in male fertility, and evidence has shown that DHA can:

• Carry out a protective action on sperm 
• Correcting defects in fertility  
• Increase the mobility and numerosity of spermatozoa 

These effects are explained by the fact that DHA is one of the components of the cell membrane of spermatozoa: it accounts for 20% of the fatty acid content in mature sperm, that is, at the end of puberty. The fatty acid composition of the membrane is very important for the proper functioning of spermatozoa and plays a critical role in fertilization events.

Omega-3, testosterone, and hypogonadism: study aligns with previous findings

"The results of the study concluded in 2020 are promising not only because of the increase in testosterone," say the authors, "but also because they suggest the potential use of DHA in the treatment of men with hypogonadism--a condition in which the testes do not produce enough testosterone--as previous studies have already shown." "Changes in testosterone levels in males were positively associated with changes in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in red blood cell membranes, and were associated with positive changes in fasting insulin," the study states. "DHA-enriched fish oil supplementation increases testosterone levels in overweight and obese men, although further research is needed to validate these findings with a larger sample size and longer study duration."   

Sources:

1) Kylie Abbott et. al, "Dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid rich fish oil increases circulating levels of testosterone in overweight and obese men." Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2020 Dec;163:102204. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2020.102204. Epub 2020 Nov 12. 

2) Kylie Abbott et. Al., "DHA-enriched fish oil reduces insulin resistance in overweight and obese adults," Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2020 Aug;159:102154. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2020.102154. Epub 2020 Jun 13.