Hi Guys,
I know it's been a long time .... Anyway, I was wandering around the net
and came up with this:
TESTOSTERONE AND CORTISOL IN RELATIONSHIP TO DIETARY NUTRIENTS AND
RESISTANCE EXERCISE
Volek et al (1) examined the effects of diet on pre and post-exercise
blood concentrations of testosterone and cortisol. They measured
hormonal concentrations in 12 trained men and then had
them participate in a resistance exercise protocol consisting of 5
sets of 10 RM on bench press and 5 sets of 10
repetitions of squat jumps using 30% 1 RM squat. They then measured
hormonal concentrations 5 minutes after the training
session. Subjects also completed 17 days of detailed food intake prior
to the study.
FINDINGS: No effect of diet was found on pre-exercise concentrations
in cortisol or absolute increases in testosterone
caused by the resistance training session. A significant effect of
diet on pre-exercise testosterone levels was found,
however. A significant negative correlation was found between
testosterone concentration and percentage of calories from
protein intake, the polyunsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio, and
the protein-to-carbohydrate ratio. A significant positive correlation
was found between testosterone concentration and
percentage of calories from fat intake, total grams of saturated fatty
acids, and total grams of monounsaturated fatty acids.
IMPLICATIONS: Diet may have a significant effect on blood
concentrations of testosterone. A higher percentage of calories from
protein may reduce blood concentrations of
testosterone, and a higher percentage of calories from fat, saturated
fat, and monounsaturated fat may result in higher
blood concentrations of testosterone. Extremely low fat diets (such
as around 10% of calories) or extremely high protein diets
may actually be detrimental to testosterone levels which could
possibly have a detrimental effect on muscle mass gains.
One must be cautious when interpreting these findings, however. Diets
were recorded by the subjects and not controlled by the researchers,
possibly reducing the accuracy of the records. In
addition, the findings of this study are purely correlational;
whether a cause-effect relationship exists between
diet and blood concentration of testosterone and whether it has any
effect on strength and muscle mass gains remains to be determined.
More research is warranted.
1. Volek, J.S., W.J. Kraemer, J.A. Bush, T. Incledon, and M. Boetes.
Testosterone and cortisol in relationship to dietary nutrients and
resistance exercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(1):49-54. 1997.
Washington State University Ath
http://www.wsu.edu/~strength/testcort.htm
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