Many studies confirm the importance of vitamin D for the human body. Now, the influence of sun vitamin on the production of the male sex hormone testosterone is coming to light.
Erection and fertility thanks to testosterone
Vitamin D is needed to produce testosterone in the cells. According to recent studies, the most effective form of vitamin D, calcitriol, plays a decisive role. A balanced testosterone level in men ensures erectile function, sperm formation and thus fertility.
Male fertility also depends on the sun.
Some years ago, it was shown that the testosterone level is related to the status of the sun vitamin D. The human body can produce this vitamin itself with the help of sunlight, but this is becoming increasingly difficult with today’s lifestyle.
Vitamin D3 as Testosterone Boost?
Based on these results, it has now been investigated whether an additional administration of vitamin D3 can increase testosterone production in human testicular cells. For this purpose, male testicle cells were isolated, mixed with vitamin D3 and examined. It was found that the administration of calcitriol significantly increased the formation of testosterone in human testicular cell cultures.
A Harvard School of Public Health study demonstrated a linear relationship between low levels of vitamin D and testosterone.
Special problems: Vitamin D deficiency
A large-scale cohort study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Heath in the USA also proves that there is a close correlation between vitamin D status and testosterone levels. Here, 1,362 participants were tested for both vitamin D and free, i.e. bioavailable, testosterone levels in their blood.
This correlation became particularly clear with a lowered vitamin D status (among the recommended 75 nmol/l serum levels), where a linear, i.e. direct correlation was discovered. The worse the supply of vitamin D, the worse the level of the male sex hormone.
It is therefore important to keep the serum level constant at at least 75 nmol/l. As a rule of thumb, a daily intake of 50 I.U. per kilogram body weight is recommended. Further information can be found in the overview article on the subject here.
So you can be more than curious about further findings on this topic, especially on the questions which role vitamin plays in the production of testosterone and why the testosterone level does not fluctuate seasonally in contrast to vitamin D.
