Decreased testosterone levels are sometimes signs of chronic illness, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Mineral supplements such as zinc increase testosterone levels, according to a study published in a1996 issue of “Nutrition.” Testosterone is also available in supplement form, but its use has been associated with adverse effects such as acne, excessive hair growth and nausea, according to the website Drugs.com Although generally considered safe, you should use testosterone supplements only as instructed by your doctor to avoid possible adverse reactions.
Zinc and Magnesium
Zinc is a mineral your body needs to regulate growth and maintain body functions such as immune response and your sense of sight. The recommended daily dose for zinc supplements is 15 milligrams for adult and teenage males and 12 milligrams for adult and teenage females, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Infants and children up to age 10 require between 5 and 10 milligrams of zinc per day. Organs such as your heart, muscles and kidneys need magnesium to be able to properly function, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Magnesium supplements are sometimes necessary to ensure you get sufficient amounts of magnesium. Adult and adolescent males need about 270 to 400 milligrams of magnesium daily. Adult and adolescent females need between 280 and 300 milligrams per day. Infants and children up to the age of 10 need 40 to 170 milligrams of magnesium daily.
Magnesium and Testosterone
A study published in a 2011 issue of “Biological Trace Element Research” found that taking about 10 milligrams of magnesium per kilogram of body weight with or without exercise caused testosterone levels to increase. However, the study found that magnesium supplement use in tandem with exercise caused a higher testosterone increase compared to those the test subjects who received supplementation without exercise. More research is needed to determine what other factors cause magnesium to increase testosterone levels.
Zinc and Testosterone
Zinc supplementation for a six-month period caused testosterone levels to increase, according to a study published in a 1996 issue of “Nutrition.” The results of the study showed that the testosterone increased among zinc-deficient elderly male test subjects; placing normal male test subjects on a zinc-restricted diet caused their testosterone levels to decrease. This suggests that zinc plays a role in regulating testosterone levels in normal males. Further research is needed to provide more insight into the factors that influence how much zinc is able to cause testosterone levels to increase.
Testosterone Levels
Men and women both have testosterone in their blood, but at different levels. Men normally have between 300 and 1,200 nanograms of testosterone per deciliter of blood, according to MedlinePlus. Women only have 30 to 95 nanograms of testosterone per deciliter of blood.
References
- "Biological Trace Element Research"; Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Testosterone Levels of Athletes and Sedentary Subjects at Rest and After Exhaustion; Cinar V, et al.; April 2011
- Mayo Clinic; Zinc Supplement (Oral Route; Parenteral Route); November 2010
- MedlinePlus; Testosterone; January 2010
- “Nutrition”; Zinc Status and Serum Testosterone Levels of Healthy Adults; Prasad AS, et al.; May 1996
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Magnesium; Steven D. Ehrlich; June 2009
- Drugs; Testosterone; January 2010
