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Multivitamins are a blend of numerous different vitamins that are commonly found in foods and supplementary natural sources but usually synthetically produce to make mass amounts of the substance. Multivitamins are used to supply vitamins that are not taken in through one’s diet. Multivitamins are also used to treat vitamin deficiencies caused by illness, poor nutrition, digestive disorders, and many other conditions. One common illness due to lack of nutrition that people of the past suffered was scurvy, because of the advancement of multivitamins people rarely encounter this condition. Multivitamins can be used for all sorts of purposes, making them a staple supplement. Up to date multivitamin products usually fall into recommended dietary allowance category. Most vitamins that are safer to ingest such as magnesium will exceed the 100% DV.
Mutlivitamins improve metabolism
if one input in the metabolic network is inadequate, repercussions are felt in a large number of other systems. This could result in an increase in DNA damage (and cancer), neuron decay (and cognitive dysfunction) or mitochondrial decay (and accelerated ageing and degenerative diseases). In addition, the optimum amount of micronutrients varies with age and constitution—the requirements of the elderly for vitamins and metabolites are likely to be different from those of the young—and with genetic make-up. A tune-up of micronutrient metabolism should therefore markedly increase health at little cost.
Mulitvitamins act as radiation
According to a couple of studies, vitamin C,B12, E, B6, Niacin, Zinc, Folic acid, and Iron all mimic radiation which we all know is the most common form of treatment against cancer. Folate deficiency causes chromosome malfunction due to the enormous incorporation of uracil in the DNA which is something you want to avoid. Vitamins B12 or B6 also cause high levels of uracil inclusion in human DNA and chromosome breaks. Inadequate zinc intake causes oxidative DNA damage, inactivation of copper/ zinc superoxide dismutase, inactivation of tumor suppressor protein p53 (a zinc protein and inactivation of oxidative DNA repair in cultured human cells). If these damaged genes multiply (which is very probable) one could really suffer physical consequences including early aging.
Preganant women are deficient in Iron
Iron deficiency has also been shown to cause oxidative damage to mitochondria and/or mitochondrial DNA which KILLS energy levels. Post Menstruating women also need the extra iron due to the lack of hormones their body is producing to help clean the blood, and help make more healthy blood.
Our Enviornment does not help our cause
With all the pesticides, xenoestrogens, smoke chemicals, and processed food we end up actually further depleting minerals/vitamins found in our multi-vitamins. Practically every item solid in your regular grocery store contains some form of preservatives, and at least half of the stuff in the store have been processed AT LEAST ONCE, meaning there are items in the store than have been processed more than once. That is not reassuring to me at all, knowing how depleted my food is, sometimes these companies have manufacturers add vitamins and minerals just so that you get some nutrition out of it. The thing is that if there are substances in a food that deplete nutrients, adding those nutrients will be pointless because the preservative and pesticides will eventually deplete the vitamins/minerals especially by the time it gets to your household.
Lactose intolerant
For those that are lactose intolerant, they cannot afford to drink milk without suffering the consequence of stomach discomfort. Milk contains a heft amount of calcium which is needed for bone health/structure. This vitamin helps with bone mineralization and is an electrolyte which is vital for hydration. Calcium is one of the vitamins that are crucial in helping prevent osteoporosis because of its positive effects on bone mineral density. . Calcium is deposited in bone with phosphorous in a crystalline form of calcium phosphate which is how the mineralization process begins; Vitamin D allows more calcium to flow into the bone through increasing levels of Calcitonin. Calcium has been shown to limit colonic polyps; if colonic polyps accumulate drastically they will cause colon cancer which is a strong form of cancer. Calcium is deposited in bone with phosphorous in a crystalline form of calcium phosphate. Calcium is also key in bone growth, which is why children should also take in proper amounts of calcium through a multi-vitamin so that they may get the maximum growth spurt their body has to offer.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D can either be obtained from the diet or produced in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. Insufficient vitamin D from these sources can result in rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. As little as 10 minutes of exposure is thought to be enough to prevent deficiencies. This fat soluble vitamin has a lot to offer in terms of overall health. Vitamin D2 is what the sun gives us humans, Vitamin D3 is what our bodies synthesize to balance out calcium and phosphorus. Recent research has shown that Vitamin D can provide protection from obtaining osteoporosis, hypertension, cancer (especially breast cancer due to its anti-estrogenic effects on estradiol), and numerous debilitating diseases. Unfortunately as one ages, the body’s ability to synthesize D2 to D3 drops by an alarming 25% which means that their Vitamin D3 supplementation needs to increase. This also means that the sunlight they receive will not be do them good like someone in their teens- early twenties. Vitamin D does not only play a role in bone health but also in neuromuscular functioning, cell growth, immune system function, glucose management, and reduces inflammation (route cause for diseases). Now here is a catch for those young people out there, because of the clouds, fog, time of the day, season, sunscreen, lotion, chemicals in the air and clothes you wear, the Vitamin D that you obtain is LIMITED. On top of that there is always a chance that proper sun exposure could lead to skin cancer from the sun’s Ultra violet rays. There is no escaping it, one MUST supplement with Vitamin D3 and a multivitamin. Higher levels of Vitamin D3 have also been linked to higher levels of TESTOSTERONE! (Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2009 Dec 29.) It makes a lot of sense when you think about it from a logical perspective, you ever notice that when its cloudy outside you mood takes a damper but when the sun is out you feel better at that moment, testosterone is a feel good hormone. I recommend that one get 25(OH)D test kit to measure their Vitamin D levels, for optimal levels, 80 nmol/l is suggested to have the signifigant positive impact on health. 100nmol/l would be the maximum levels of Vitamin D I suggest. I recommend Vitamin D3 over D2 also because D2 is associated with more harmful effects to the body since it’s a less biologically active form within the human body.
Magensium also offers countless benefits, over 95% of people are DEFICIENT in magnesium. We humans easily deplete magnesium through eating sugar/processed foods, stress, physical training of any kind, ejaculation, sweat, aging, etc. This mineral helps the kidney get rid of excess calcium from the kidneys which prevents kidney stones; magnesium also helps clean the blood from excess calcium which prevents blood clotting in the arteries, one of the main reasons why it’s so vital to heart. Many athletes cardiovascular endurance improve greatly after supplementing with magnesium. Magnesium allows the heart to contract smoother which prevents a whole list of issues. Magnesium is an electrolyte which is needed to maintain hydration within the body along water. Magnesium also acts a muscle relaxant in all muscles while contracting, preventing fatigue from settling early, even preventing muscles from getting sore. Magnesium is also responsible for enzymatic functions within the body ranging from production of hormones to digestion of food. Since magnesium is great for nerve function it actually prevents NMDA receptors from over-stimulating which prevents nerve dysfunction and inflammation from the muscle. Make sure to avoid steaming, boiling vegetables especially spinach which will deplete the magnesium these foods are known to be rich in. Magnesium also balances out potassium in our body, too much potassium can lead to heart failure just as too little potassium can lead to another set of issues. Magnesium has a positive impact on glucose, it helps stabilize blood sugar levels which is great in preventing diabetes. Magnesium also helps Vitamin D with its conversion to Vitamin D3 allowing for that vitamin to manifest its potential. Magnesium is required to activate the enzyme which LOWERS BAD CHOLESTEROL. Magnesium also ALLEVIATES PMS symptoms such as menstrual cramps, headaches, and even bloat. I think I have the attention of women now because a menstrual cycle that can be dampened is always welcomed. Magnesium even bonds with ATP to create more energy within the tissues to allow for more force, this translates to more power output and muscular endurance. Magnesium is also a great stress management mineral/vitamin due to its neuroprotective and anti-cortisol inducing effects. Many soldiers in combat take doses of magnesium to help settle their nerves before sleep. Selenium will allow magnesium to abide longer within cells for maximum benefit. Magnesium also amplifies the positive effect that B-Vitamins have on our central nervous system.
Magesium impacts both total and free testosterone greatly, here are two articles from ergo showing the proof of the positives effects magnesium has on testosterone:
“About two percent of the testosterone in the body is active: it is not attached to binding proteins which prevent testosterone from interacting with its receptor. About forty percent of the body’s testosterone is attached to albumin, a protein that can let go of the hormone. Free testosterone and testosterone attached to albumin are referred to as bio-available testosterone.
About sixty percent of the body’s testosterone is attached to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which you can see in the illustration here from Wikipedia. Androgens bound to SHBG lose their anabolic effect but probably retain their androgenic effect. In the prostate, for example, there are SHBG receptors and they send error signs to the prostate cells if they attach themselves to SHBG with androgens bound to it. Androgen steroid hormones incorporated by SHBG therefore do have undesired effects, but no desirable effects.
As men get older, SHBG sweeps up more and more testosterone. This is also because older men eat less protein. Low protein consumption raises the concentration of SHBG in the blood. A higher protein intake results in more albumin, and that increases the amount of bio-available testosterone. Within limits, of course.
The researchers, linked to the Université de Franche-Comté, extracted SHBG from the blood of young men, and exposed the protein to magnesium ions. Then they measured how fast the testosterone attached itself to SHBG at increasing magnesium concentrations. The higher the magnesium concentration, the lower the attraction.
Although the researchers did not examine whether more magnesium actually leads to more free testosterone in humans, they believe their findings are meaningful at the physiological level.
"The results presented here provide evidence for an Mg2+-mediated variation of the testosterone-SHBG association, suggesting that an increase of the Mg2+-concentration inside the biological concentration range (0.75mM-1.0mM) could lead an enhancement of the bioavailable testosterone", they write.
Fifteen years ago researchers examined the effect of extremely high – and biologically improbable – magnesium concentrations. These led to a small decline in the testosterone level.” Source: [Horm Metab Res. 1993 Jan;25(1):29-33.]
“The idea that athletes react well to magnesium supplements is not so strange. Nutritionists estimate our magnesium requirement at 4 mg/kg/day. Cells need magnesium to produce the energy molecules ATP and protective enzymes. But according to American surveys, seventy percent of the population does not get enough of the mineral. This is because people no longer consume sufficient amounts of whole grains, spinach, nuts and beans – all good sources of magnesium.
Epidemiological studies of elderly people have shown that the more magnesium they consume, the greater their muscular strength. A possible mechanism is that magnesium causes testosterone to attach itself less easily to the binding protein SHBG, and as a result the concentration of free testosterone in the blood rises.
The researchers at Selcuk University did an experiment with 30 male students aged between 18 and 22. Ten had a sedentary lifestyle; twenty did taekwondo five times a week for between ninety minutes and two hours each session.
The ten sedentary students took 10 mg/kg bodyweight magnesium in the form of magnesium sulphate every day for four weeks [Group 1]. For a person weighing 100 kg that amounts to one gram of magnesium daily. Among the martial arts practitioners, half received the same dose of magnesium [Group 2], and the other half took nothing [Group 3].
Before starting the supplementation, the researchers measured the students’ testosterone concentration in their blood. This was done at rest [Rbs] and after running at high intensity until exhaustion [Ebs]. After four weeks of taking the supplements, the researchers once again measured the testosterone concentration at rest [Ras] and after physical exhaustion [Eas].
The table below shows the total testosterone values. The lower table shows the free testosterone values. Free testosterone is not attached to transport proteins and is therefore known to be active, which is not always the case for testosterone that is attached.
Most noticeable is the rise in the free testosterone level of Group 2 at rest: 24 percent. In Group 3, those who didn’t take magnesium, the rise is ‘only’ 15 percent. According to the researchers, the testosterone enhancing effect of magnesium is enough to improve athletes’ performance.
The same researchers have also published articles on the testosterone enhancing properties of astronomic doses of zinc and non-astronomic, but hefty doses of calcium.
(Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 Mar 30.)
The researchers have announced that they will soon be publishing their findings on the effect of plant substances on the binding of testosterone to SHBG.
Magnesium in food is found in plant products. Good sources are fibre-rich breakfast cereals, spinach, nuts and beans.”
Source:
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2008.10.041
Zinc’s positive effect on Testosterone
Zinc is an essential trace mineral/vitamin that is required for the chemical activity of over 300 of the body's enzymes. Zinc is considered essential for cell division and the synthesis of DNA, protein. These enzymes are implicated with the metabolism of protein, carbohydrate, fat and even alcohol. Zinc is also vital to tissue growth, wound healing, taste perception, connective tissue growth and repairs, immune system function, prostaglandin production, bone mineralization, proper thyroid function/output, blood clotting, cognitive functions, and sperm production. Insufficient zinc levels prevent the pituitary gland from releasing luteinizing hormones (LH) and follicle stimulating hormones (FSH), which are the hormones that are on step from testosterone production. Zinc effectively inhibits the aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen, which can allow for faster estrogen dominance in men. The testosterone to estrogen ratio in men drops with aging from a rate of about 50:1 to 25:1, even as low as 10:1. Higher estrogen activity results in increased risk of heart disease, FAT gain, and diabetes, low testosterone, anxiety, depression, and low functioning immune system. One reason for the progressive weight gain with age is that fat cells contain aromatase. More fat cells mean more estrogen which means more fat deposition. Alcohol consumption lowers zinc and increases estrogen, and so magnifies the problem. Don’t forget that lower levels of estrogen mean less SHBG’s and more FREE TESTOSTERONE! In addition to the impact on hormone levels, zinc also has been proven to help the body produce healthier sperm by increasing sperm motility and sperm count. A USDA study found that semen volume dropped at least 30 percent when zinc consumption was low. Researchers found that male volunteers who consumed low amounts of zinc displayed less semen volumes and lower serum blood concentrations of testosterone. Zinc deficiency has been proven to have a severe impact on the male prostate gland. Zinc deficiency predisposes the prostate to infection which may lead to enlargement of the prostate gland. As you all know that the prostate grows when there is a LACK OF ANDROGENS, and more estrogen within the prostate. Again the correlation between zinc and higher testosterone with lower estrogen is quite notable. Also Zinc has a positive effect on the immune system which prevents one from getting sick easily. Zinc is a component in thymic hormone which controls and facilitates the maturation of lymphocytes. Zinc also plays a role in cell division and DNA replication. Zinc has shown to have pain killer effects on women with PMS by increasing natural endorphin output. Zinc also has positive effects on the skin because it transports Vitamin A from the liver to the skin. Zinc can release Vitamins such as Magnesium, copper (needed for testosterone as well) because they compete for the same receptors. This is why a multivitamin should contain all these vitamins to prevent depletion or surplus of vitamins.
Zinc and Magnesium
These two vitamins when combine create a GH releasing effect. This is one of the main reasons companies sell just the ZMA complex which is composed of Magnesium and Zinc aspartate. Magnesium has a couple studies showing that increases both serotonin and dopamine which are crucial for both GH and testosterone. The more GH your body releases; the more testosterone your body will release because of the body’s recognizing for a necessity of androgens with increased muscle mass.
Mutlivitamins improve metabolism
if one input in the metabolic network is inadequate, repercussions are felt in a large number of other systems. This could result in an increase in DNA damage (and cancer), neuron decay (and cognitive dysfunction) or mitochondrial decay (and accelerated ageing and degenerative diseases). In addition, the optimum amount of micronutrients varies with age and constitution—the requirements of the elderly for vitamins and metabolites are likely to be different from those of the young—and with genetic make-up. A tune-up of micronutrient metabolism should therefore markedly increase health at little cost.
Mulitvitamins act as radiation
According to a couple of studies, vitamin C,B12, E, B6, Niacin, Zinc, Folic acid, and Iron all mimic radiation which we all know is the most common form of treatment against cancer. Folate deficiency causes chromosome malfunction due to the enormous incorporation of uracil in the DNA which is something you want to avoid. Vitamins B12 or B6 also cause high levels of uracil inclusion in human DNA and chromosome breaks. Inadequate zinc intake causes oxidative DNA damage, inactivation of copper/ zinc superoxide dismutase, inactivation of tumor suppressor protein p53 (a zinc protein and inactivation of oxidative DNA repair in cultured human cells). If these damaged genes multiply (which is very probable) one could really suffer physical consequences including early aging.
Preganant women are deficient in Iron
Iron deficiency has also been shown to cause oxidative damage to mitochondria and/or mitochondrial DNA which KILLS energy levels. Post Menstruating women also need the extra iron due to the lack of hormones their body is producing to help clean the blood, and help make more healthy blood.
Our Enviornment does not help our cause
With all the pesticides, xenoestrogens, smoke chemicals, and processed food we end up actually further depleting minerals/vitamins found in our multi-vitamins. Practically every item solid in your regular grocery store contains some form of preservatives, and at least half of the stuff in the store have been processed AT LEAST ONCE, meaning there are items in the store than have been processed more than once. That is not reassuring to me at all, knowing how depleted my food is, sometimes these companies have manufacturers add vitamins and minerals just so that you get some nutrition out of it. The thing is that if there are substances in a food that deplete nutrients, adding those nutrients will be pointless because the preservative and pesticides will eventually deplete the vitamins/minerals especially by the time it gets to your household.
Lactose intolerant
For those that are lactose intolerant, they cannot afford to drink milk without suffering the consequence of stomach discomfort. Milk contains a heft amount of calcium which is needed for bone health/structure. This vitamin helps with bone mineralization and is an electrolyte which is vital for hydration. Calcium is one of the vitamins that are crucial in helping prevent osteoporosis because of its positive effects on bone mineral density. . Calcium is deposited in bone with phosphorous in a crystalline form of calcium phosphate which is how the mineralization process begins; Vitamin D allows more calcium to flow into the bone through increasing levels of Calcitonin. Calcium has been shown to limit colonic polyps; if colonic polyps accumulate drastically they will cause colon cancer which is a strong form of cancer. Calcium is deposited in bone with phosphorous in a crystalline form of calcium phosphate. Calcium is also key in bone growth, which is why children should also take in proper amounts of calcium through a multi-vitamin so that they may get the maximum growth spurt their body has to offer.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D can either be obtained from the diet or produced in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. Insufficient vitamin D from these sources can result in rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. As little as 10 minutes of exposure is thought to be enough to prevent deficiencies. This fat soluble vitamin has a lot to offer in terms of overall health. Vitamin D2 is what the sun gives us humans, Vitamin D3 is what our bodies synthesize to balance out calcium and phosphorus. Recent research has shown that Vitamin D can provide protection from obtaining osteoporosis, hypertension, cancer (especially breast cancer due to its anti-estrogenic effects on estradiol), and numerous debilitating diseases. Unfortunately as one ages, the body’s ability to synthesize D2 to D3 drops by an alarming 25% which means that their Vitamin D3 supplementation needs to increase. This also means that the sunlight they receive will not be do them good like someone in their teens- early twenties. Vitamin D does not only play a role in bone health but also in neuromuscular functioning, cell growth, immune system function, glucose management, and reduces inflammation (route cause for diseases). Now here is a catch for those young people out there, because of the clouds, fog, time of the day, season, sunscreen, lotion, chemicals in the air and clothes you wear, the Vitamin D that you obtain is LIMITED. On top of that there is always a chance that proper sun exposure could lead to skin cancer from the sun’s Ultra violet rays. There is no escaping it, one MUST supplement with Vitamin D3 and a multivitamin. Higher levels of Vitamin D3 have also been linked to higher levels of TESTOSTERONE! (Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2009 Dec 29.) It makes a lot of sense when you think about it from a logical perspective, you ever notice that when its cloudy outside you mood takes a damper but when the sun is out you feel better at that moment, testosterone is a feel good hormone. I recommend that one get 25(OH)D test kit to measure their Vitamin D levels, for optimal levels, 80 nmol/l is suggested to have the signifigant positive impact on health. 100nmol/l would be the maximum levels of Vitamin D I suggest. I recommend Vitamin D3 over D2 also because D2 is associated with more harmful effects to the body since it’s a less biologically active form within the human body.
Magensium also offers countless benefits, over 95% of people are DEFICIENT in magnesium. We humans easily deplete magnesium through eating sugar/processed foods, stress, physical training of any kind, ejaculation, sweat, aging, etc. This mineral helps the kidney get rid of excess calcium from the kidneys which prevents kidney stones; magnesium also helps clean the blood from excess calcium which prevents blood clotting in the arteries, one of the main reasons why it’s so vital to heart. Many athletes cardiovascular endurance improve greatly after supplementing with magnesium. Magnesium allows the heart to contract smoother which prevents a whole list of issues. Magnesium is an electrolyte which is needed to maintain hydration within the body along water. Magnesium also acts a muscle relaxant in all muscles while contracting, preventing fatigue from settling early, even preventing muscles from getting sore. Magnesium is also responsible for enzymatic functions within the body ranging from production of hormones to digestion of food. Since magnesium is great for nerve function it actually prevents NMDA receptors from over-stimulating which prevents nerve dysfunction and inflammation from the muscle. Make sure to avoid steaming, boiling vegetables especially spinach which will deplete the magnesium these foods are known to be rich in. Magnesium also balances out potassium in our body, too much potassium can lead to heart failure just as too little potassium can lead to another set of issues. Magnesium has a positive impact on glucose, it helps stabilize blood sugar levels which is great in preventing diabetes. Magnesium also helps Vitamin D with its conversion to Vitamin D3 allowing for that vitamin to manifest its potential. Magnesium is required to activate the enzyme which LOWERS BAD CHOLESTEROL. Magnesium also ALLEVIATES PMS symptoms such as menstrual cramps, headaches, and even bloat. I think I have the attention of women now because a menstrual cycle that can be dampened is always welcomed. Magnesium even bonds with ATP to create more energy within the tissues to allow for more force, this translates to more power output and muscular endurance. Magnesium is also a great stress management mineral/vitamin due to its neuroprotective and anti-cortisol inducing effects. Many soldiers in combat take doses of magnesium to help settle their nerves before sleep. Selenium will allow magnesium to abide longer within cells for maximum benefit. Magnesium also amplifies the positive effect that B-Vitamins have on our central nervous system.
Magesium impacts both total and free testosterone greatly, here are two articles from ergo showing the proof of the positives effects magnesium has on testosterone:
“About two percent of the testosterone in the body is active: it is not attached to binding proteins which prevent testosterone from interacting with its receptor. About forty percent of the body’s testosterone is attached to albumin, a protein that can let go of the hormone. Free testosterone and testosterone attached to albumin are referred to as bio-available testosterone.
About sixty percent of the body’s testosterone is attached to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which you can see in the illustration here from Wikipedia. Androgens bound to SHBG lose their anabolic effect but probably retain their androgenic effect. In the prostate, for example, there are SHBG receptors and they send error signs to the prostate cells if they attach themselves to SHBG with androgens bound to it. Androgen steroid hormones incorporated by SHBG therefore do have undesired effects, but no desirable effects.
As men get older, SHBG sweeps up more and more testosterone. This is also because older men eat less protein. Low protein consumption raises the concentration of SHBG in the blood. A higher protein intake results in more albumin, and that increases the amount of bio-available testosterone. Within limits, of course.
The researchers, linked to the Université de Franche-Comté, extracted SHBG from the blood of young men, and exposed the protein to magnesium ions. Then they measured how fast the testosterone attached itself to SHBG at increasing magnesium concentrations. The higher the magnesium concentration, the lower the attraction.
Although the researchers did not examine whether more magnesium actually leads to more free testosterone in humans, they believe their findings are meaningful at the physiological level.
"The results presented here provide evidence for an Mg2+-mediated variation of the testosterone-SHBG association, suggesting that an increase of the Mg2+-concentration inside the biological concentration range (0.75mM-1.0mM) could lead an enhancement of the bioavailable testosterone", they write.
Fifteen years ago researchers examined the effect of extremely high – and biologically improbable – magnesium concentrations. These led to a small decline in the testosterone level.” Source: [Horm Metab Res. 1993 Jan;25(1):29-33.]
“The idea that athletes react well to magnesium supplements is not so strange. Nutritionists estimate our magnesium requirement at 4 mg/kg/day. Cells need magnesium to produce the energy molecules ATP and protective enzymes. But according to American surveys, seventy percent of the population does not get enough of the mineral. This is because people no longer consume sufficient amounts of whole grains, spinach, nuts and beans – all good sources of magnesium.
Epidemiological studies of elderly people have shown that the more magnesium they consume, the greater their muscular strength. A possible mechanism is that magnesium causes testosterone to attach itself less easily to the binding protein SHBG, and as a result the concentration of free testosterone in the blood rises.
The researchers at Selcuk University did an experiment with 30 male students aged between 18 and 22. Ten had a sedentary lifestyle; twenty did taekwondo five times a week for between ninety minutes and two hours each session.
The ten sedentary students took 10 mg/kg bodyweight magnesium in the form of magnesium sulphate every day for four weeks [Group 1]. For a person weighing 100 kg that amounts to one gram of magnesium daily. Among the martial arts practitioners, half received the same dose of magnesium [Group 2], and the other half took nothing [Group 3].
Before starting the supplementation, the researchers measured the students’ testosterone concentration in their blood. This was done at rest [Rbs] and after running at high intensity until exhaustion [Ebs]. After four weeks of taking the supplements, the researchers once again measured the testosterone concentration at rest [Ras] and after physical exhaustion [Eas].
The table below shows the total testosterone values. The lower table shows the free testosterone values. Free testosterone is not attached to transport proteins and is therefore known to be active, which is not always the case for testosterone that is attached.
Most noticeable is the rise in the free testosterone level of Group 2 at rest: 24 percent. In Group 3, those who didn’t take magnesium, the rise is ‘only’ 15 percent. According to the researchers, the testosterone enhancing effect of magnesium is enough to improve athletes’ performance.
The same researchers have also published articles on the testosterone enhancing properties of astronomic doses of zinc and non-astronomic, but hefty doses of calcium.
(Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 Mar 30.)
The researchers have announced that they will soon be publishing their findings on the effect of plant substances on the binding of testosterone to SHBG.
Magnesium in food is found in plant products. Good sources are fibre-rich breakfast cereals, spinach, nuts and beans.”
Source:
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2008.10.041
Zinc’s positive effect on Testosterone
Zinc is an essential trace mineral/vitamin that is required for the chemical activity of over 300 of the body's enzymes. Zinc is considered essential for cell division and the synthesis of DNA, protein. These enzymes are implicated with the metabolism of protein, carbohydrate, fat and even alcohol. Zinc is also vital to tissue growth, wound healing, taste perception, connective tissue growth and repairs, immune system function, prostaglandin production, bone mineralization, proper thyroid function/output, blood clotting, cognitive functions, and sperm production. Insufficient zinc levels prevent the pituitary gland from releasing luteinizing hormones (LH) and follicle stimulating hormones (FSH), which are the hormones that are on step from testosterone production. Zinc effectively inhibits the aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen, which can allow for faster estrogen dominance in men. The testosterone to estrogen ratio in men drops with aging from a rate of about 50:1 to 25:1, even as low as 10:1. Higher estrogen activity results in increased risk of heart disease, FAT gain, and diabetes, low testosterone, anxiety, depression, and low functioning immune system. One reason for the progressive weight gain with age is that fat cells contain aromatase. More fat cells mean more estrogen which means more fat deposition. Alcohol consumption lowers zinc and increases estrogen, and so magnifies the problem. Don’t forget that lower levels of estrogen mean less SHBG’s and more FREE TESTOSTERONE! In addition to the impact on hormone levels, zinc also has been proven to help the body produce healthier sperm by increasing sperm motility and sperm count. A USDA study found that semen volume dropped at least 30 percent when zinc consumption was low. Researchers found that male volunteers who consumed low amounts of zinc displayed less semen volumes and lower serum blood concentrations of testosterone. Zinc deficiency has been proven to have a severe impact on the male prostate gland. Zinc deficiency predisposes the prostate to infection which may lead to enlargement of the prostate gland. As you all know that the prostate grows when there is a LACK OF ANDROGENS, and more estrogen within the prostate. Again the correlation between zinc and higher testosterone with lower estrogen is quite notable. Also Zinc has a positive effect on the immune system which prevents one from getting sick easily. Zinc is a component in thymic hormone which controls and facilitates the maturation of lymphocytes. Zinc also plays a role in cell division and DNA replication. Zinc has shown to have pain killer effects on women with PMS by increasing natural endorphin output. Zinc also has positive effects on the skin because it transports Vitamin A from the liver to the skin. Zinc can release Vitamins such as Magnesium, copper (needed for testosterone as well) because they compete for the same receptors. This is why a multivitamin should contain all these vitamins to prevent depletion or surplus of vitamins.
Zinc and Magnesium
These two vitamins when combine create a GH releasing effect. This is one of the main reasons companies sell just the ZMA complex which is composed of Magnesium and Zinc aspartate. Magnesium has a couple studies showing that increases both serotonin and dopamine which are crucial for both GH and testosterone. The more GH your body releases; the more testosterone your body will release because of the body’s recognizing for a necessity of androgens with increased muscle mass.
