Does Coconut Oil Affect Testosterone Levels?

Testosterone is a pretty important hormone, while both men and women produce this hormone, the level of testosterone produced in men is 20 times higher than in women.
In men, the hormone testosterone plays an important role in muscle and body growth, bone health and especially sexual function. Testosterone levels peak in men around the age of 19 and decrease on average by about 16% by age 40.
Most of the testosterone in the blood is bound to two proteins, albumin and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). ). Sex hormone is tightly bound to testosterone making it difficult for the body to use this hormone while albumin has a weaker bond and it can be easily used by the body with just a little effort. The remaining testosterone is called free testosterone, which is not bound to proteins, so the body can easily use it. Both free testosterone and albumin-bound testosterone make up testosterone that can be readily used by the body. Total available testosterone and sex hormone (SHBG) make up the body's total testosterone hormone.

Although testosterone levels are affected by a number of lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, coconut oil has an effect on testosterone levels in humans. However, this relationship has not yet been clearly demonstrated.
Coconut oil contains a high percentage of fat from medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) accounting for about 54% of which lauric acid (42%), caprylic acid (7%), and capric acid (5%). But this neutral-chain triglyceride has been shown to affect a hormone similar to testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The body uses the enzyme 5-alpha reductase to convert about 5% of free testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
What is particularly interesting is that neutral-chain triglycerides including lauric acid have been shown to block the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in test-tube studies in animals.
Medicines called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are commonly prescribed to treat hair loss in men. It has a similar mechanism of action by blocking the enzyme 5-alpha reductase.
However, studies in humans are still limited. Further studies are needed to determine whether consuming neutral chain triglycerides from coconut oil prevents or can treat hair loss in men. Because, some studies show that hair loss in men is also influenced by genetic factors.

Low testosterone has been linked to erectile dysfunction (ED). This is the inability to get or maintain an erection. This condition can cause weakness in men. It also makes men confused, low self-esteem leading to an unsatisfactory sex life.
The current global prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) is around 77% and it tends to become more common with age. However, to overcome this condition, some foods have been suggested to help improve erectile dysfunction including coconut oil. And coconut oil is suggested to increase testosterone and improve sexual function. However, there is no concrete evidence that coconut oil can directly increase testosterone or reduce erectile dysfunction (ED).
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in people with diseases or conditions affecting the blood vessels such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and being overweight or obese.
If you have any of the above symptoms, you can reduce or improve your erectile dysfunction by making lifestyle changes such as participating in regular physical activities, adopting servings of lots of fruits and vegetables. At the same time maintain weight within normal limits and do not smoke.

Coconut oil is an oil extracted from the copra and coconut meat. It contains high proportion of neutral chain triglycerides. Test-tube studies in animals show that coconut oil blocks the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone involved in hair loss in men. In addition, coconut oil has been suggested to reduce erectile dysfunction and improve sexual function by increasing the hormone testosterone. However, the evidence for this association is still limited and more in-depth studies are needed to confirm.
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Reference source: healthline.com

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