Does fish oil increase testosterone

Pro Research Analysisby

Searched over 200M research papers

Analyzed relevant papers

The Impact of Fish Oil on Testosterone Levels

Fish Oil and Testosterone Synthesis in Overweight and Obese Men

Research indicates that fish oil, particularly rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), can increase testosterone levels in overweight and obese men. A study involving DHA-enriched fish oil supplementation showed a significant rise in total testosterone levels in males after 12 weeks of intervention. This increase was positively associated with changes in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and inversely correlated with omega-6 PUFA content in erythrocyte membranes .

Fish Oil and Testosterone in Animal Models

Mice Studies

In male mice, fish oil supplementation has been shown to ameliorate high-fat diet-induced reproductive dysfunction. This improvement was linked to the restoration of steroid synthesis-related gene expression and the modification of circadian gene expression, which are crucial for testosterone synthesis . Another study demonstrated that fish oil upregulated testosterone levels in mice, suggesting that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in fish oil plays a role in testosterone metabolism .

Dogs and Pigs

Contrary to the positive effects observed in humans and mice, a study on male dogs found that long-term fish oil supplementation actually decreased serum testosterone concentrations, despite improving semen quality . Similarly, in adult pigs, fish oil supplementation altered the fatty acid composition in testicular tissues and affected steroid hormone concentrations, including testosterone, although the specific effects varied depending on the type of fish oil used .

Fish Oil and Testosterone in Athletes

Athletes often use fish oil supplements to enhance physical performance. Preliminary findings suggest that fish oil may induce a physiological increase in testosterone synthesis, potentially improving the anabolic effects of exercise . This indicates a possible benefit for athletes seeking to boost their testosterone levels naturally.

Mixed Results in Other Studies

While some studies highlight the beneficial effects of fish oil on testosterone levels, others present mixed results. For instance, a study on rats showed that omega-3 supplementation, including fish oil, decreased serum testosterone levels and downregulated the expression of steroidogenic genes . Additionally, in a study involving aged male broiler breeders, fish oil combined with rooibos improved semen quality and reproductive performance, but the increase in testosterone levels was not significant over time .

Conclusion

The impact of fish oil on testosterone levels appears to be influenced by several factors, including the species studied, the specific composition of the fish oil, and the duration of supplementation. While fish oil has shown promise in increasing testosterone levels in overweight and obese men and in certain animal models, the results are not universally consistent across all studies. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and to substantiate these findings across different populations and conditions.

Sources and full results

Most relevant research papers on this topic

Dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid rich fish oil increases circulating levels of testosterone in overweight and obese men.

DHA-enriched fish oil supplementation increases testosterone levels in overweight and obese men, but not in females.

RCT

2020·

15citations

·K. Abbott et al.

Do Fat Supplements Increase Physical Performance?

Fish oil and CLA supplements may improve physical performance and testosterone synthesis, potentially enhancing the anabolic effect of exercise.

Literature ReviewRigorous Journal

2013·

38citations

·F. Macaluso et al.

Fish Oil Ameliorates High-Fat Diet Induced Male Mouse Reproductive Dysfunction via Modifying the Rhythmic Expression of Testosterone Synthesis Related Genes

Fish oil supplementation prevents high-fat diet-induced male mouse reproductive dysfunction by restoring testosterone synthesis related gene expression and modifying circadian gene expression.

RCTAnimal Study

2018·

31citations

·Hualin Wang et al.

Effect of dietary fish oil on mouse testosterone level and the distribution of eicosapentaenoic acid-containing phosphatidylcholine in testicular interstitium

Fish oil increases testosterone levels in mice, suggesting it plays a role in testosterone metabolism and maintaining a healthy testosterone level.

Non-RCTAnimal Study

2016·

11citations

·N. Zaima et al.

Effect of Long-Term Fish Oil Supplementation on Semen Quality and Serum Testosterone Concentrations in Male Dogs

Long-term fish oil supplementation improves semen quality and testosterone concentrations in dogs by altering semen fatty acid profiles.

RCTAnimal StudyRigorous Journal

2016·

28citations

·A. Risso et al.

Effect of Omega-3 or Omega-6 Dietary Supplementation on Testicular Steroidogenesis, Adipokine Network, Cytokines, and Oxidative Stress in Adult Male Rats

Omega-3 or omega-6 supplementation negatively affects testosterone levels but improves the reproductive system's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory status by modulating testicular adipokines.

RCTAnimal StudyRigorous Journal

2021·

18citations

·A. Moustafa

Effect of dietary n-3 fatty acid and rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) supplementation on semen quality, sperm fatty acids and reproductive performance of aged male broiler breeders.

Dietary inclusion of fish oil and rooibos improves semen quality and reproduction performance in aged male broiler breeders.

RCTAnimal StudyVery Rigorous Journal

2022·

4citations

·S. Golzar Adabi et al.

Fish oil diets alter the phospholipid balance, fatty acid composition, and steroid hormone concentrations in testes of adult pigs.

Long-term dietary supplementation of fish oil alters fatty acid compositions in testis and affects steroid production in adult boars, potentially impacting fertility studies.

2011·

30citations

·C. Castellano et al.

The effects of fish oil omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on mental health parameters and metabolic status of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Fish oil omega-3 fatty acid supplementation improves mental health and reduces inflammation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, but does not affect other metabolic parameters.

RCT

2018·

22citations

·M. Amini et al.

Impact of low fish meal and fish oil diets on the performance, sex steroid profile and male-female sex reversal of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) over a three-year production cycle

Low fish meal and fish oil diets in gilthead sea bream lead to faster growth, sex steroid profile changes, and a higher proportion of females, but these effects can be reversed with butyrate.

2018·

44citations

·P. Simó-Mirabet et al.

Try another search

stigmatization of depression

is vitamin c the same as calcium

lithium depression anxiety

how long does vitamin d stay in your body

drug use mental illness

painkiller high