Does Zinc Increase Testosterone in the Body? Why Zinc Is Essential For Good Sexual Health!

Testosterone is an essential hormone in men’s health, and its significance cannot be ignored or denied. It is not only responsible for maintaining sex drive but also maintains good bone and muscle strength.

Testosterone levels are highest when a man is an adult, and they gradually start falling when the man begins aging.

If the testosterone level of males starts falling, they may develop a condition known as hypogonadism. The cause of the disorder may be the deficiency of Zinc in the body. 

What are the Causes and Symptoms of Low Testosterone?

As mentioned above, the testosterone levels in a human male’s body decrease with age. However, there are multiple other factors as well that lead to low testosterone. Some of the elements are:

• Cancer
• Inflammatory diseases
• Injury in testicles
• HIV
• Gland disorders
• Genetic disorders
• Effect of certain medicines

Symptoms

There are multiple causes of low testosterone. As far as symptoms are concerned, an individual with low testosterone can face the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• No or very low sex drive
• Hot flashes
• Erectile dysfunction
• Difficulty in concentrating on things
• Poor general health

These symptoms can deteriorate the quality of any individual’s life. Therefore, it is important to determine the underlying cause behind the low testosterone levels in the body.

If the underlying cause is zinc deficiency, this article will help you better understand the importance of Zinc in the body and how to maintain its levels. 

What is Zinc, and What is its Connection with Hypogonadism?

Zinc is a very popular dietary mineral. It is an important trace mineral that cannot naturally be made in the body. It performs several essential functions in the body DNA replication, gene expression, cell division, and cell growth. It also strengthens the immune system and helps the body heal. 

It is amazing how more than 300 enzymes in our body depend on Zinc to perform their function in the body. In men, as stated above, Zinc plays a significant role in maintaining testosterone levels in the body. 

How to Determine if the Body Lacks Zinc?

Multiple symptoms start appearing in the body when the levels of Zinc start decreasing. The main symptoms of low Zinc levels in the body are:

• No or significantly less appetite
• Mood swings
• Changes in skin
• Immune system problems
• No wound healing
• Brain fog

Zinc and Sexual Health of Male

The reproductive system of males depends on Zinc to perform multiple jobs. It is responsible for the testosterone levels in the body, and other male hormones also depend on Zinc to perform their function.

It controls all the functions of our reproductive system, like sperm count, sex drive, fertility, prostate function, testicular health, and whatnot. 

Zinc and testosterone

Zinc helps in the conversion of testosterone to its active form. Not consuming enough Zinc may lead to low testosterone levels in the body, which automatically start decreasing with age. A proper diet and good zinc supplements can help you cope with low testosterone levels.

Zinc and Libido

Testosterone is the primary hormone for maintaining libido in a man’s body. Since Zinc plays a significant role in testosterone production, it greatly impacts a man’s sex drive.

Taking Zinc in proper quantities can improve sexual performance and also helps to improve libido. 

Zinc and Fertility in Males

Zinc impacts both the quantity and quality of sperm. Therefore, if a man is facing fertility issues, taking Zinc in a proper amount can improve the quality of semen and the motility of sperm and improves the chances of conception in females. 

Zinc and Erectile Dysfunction in Males

Both psychological and physical factors can cause erectile dysfunction in males. One of the causes of erectile dysfunction in males is low testosterone in the body, and improving the levels of Zinc in the body can majorly help improve erectile dysfunction. 

How to Combat Zinc Deficiency?

Since our body cannot store Zinc, taking the mineral daily is essential. Men who are above 19 years of age should take at least 11 milligrams of Zinc every day to maintain their testosterone levels in the body. Foods that can help you get sufficient amounts of Zinc are:

• Nuts
• Chicken
• Yogurt
• Oatmeal
• Beans
• Pork
• Crab
• Oysters
• Legumes
• Mushrooms
• Spinach
• Asparagus
• Quinoa
• Green peas
• Cashews and hemp seeds

As mentioned above, our body needs 11 milligrams of Zinc daily. Getting the whole amount from the food is impossible, particularly for people who follow a vegetarian diet. 

It does not matter if you follow a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian diet; taking proper zinc supplements can help you maintain the zinc levels in the body. However, it is essential to remember that one should not consume more than 40 mg of Zinc as it may cause toxicity in the body. Therefore, one should be extremely mindful while taking Zinc and its supplements. 

How Can Zinc Increase Testosterone?

Billions of theories tell how Zinc increases testosterone levels in the body. However, no theory tells how Zinc maintains its levels in the body. 

The most significant theory is that Zinc not only influences cell division and immunity but also helps androstenedione which helps it to convert into testosterone. 

Also, Zinc impacts the cells in the testes responsible for creating testosterone in the body. 

Some studies also prove that Zinc helps in maintaining the testosterone levels in the body, which reduce at the time of exercise. All the high-intensity exercises like running on a treadmill and bodybuilding lower the testosterone levels in the body. Zinc stops testosterone reduction, helps you stay active, and keeps testosterone levels healthy. 

Combining Zinc with Other Supplements to Maintain Testosterone Levels

Taking Zinc with other testosterone-boosting supplements is a sure shot at increasing low testosterone levels. Combining Zinc with Vitamin D, magnesium, boron, and selenium is the best choice.

• Firstly, vitamin D is also very essential for male sexual function. One can get enough Vitamin D through sunlight, but since most people do not get enough, less production can also lead to low testosterone levels in the body along with Zinc. Vitamin D is essential for zinc absorption.

• The next supplement that can be taken with Zinc is magnesium. It also increases testosterone levels in the body along with Zinc. 

• Lastly, boron and selenium also significantly increase testosterone levels in the body when combined with Zinc. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the additional benefits of Zinc?

There are numerous other benefits of Zinc too. They are as follows:

• It is very useful in children’s growth and helps them fight diarrhea.
• Zinc controls aging in the body
• Zinc is also essential for maintaining good skin health
• Zinc also cures depression
• Zinc also helps to cure sleep-related disorders

2. What amount can be considered a healthy amount of zinc intake?

The amount of zinc intake can vary from person to person. The following are the recommendations:

• Pregnant women: 11 mg per day
• Breastfeeding women: 12 mg per day
• Children below six months: 2 mg per day
• Children between 7 months to 3 years: 3 mg per day
• Children between 4 to 8 years: 8 mg per day
• Children between 9 to 13 years: 8 mg per day
• Boys between 14 to 18 yeras: 11 mg per day
• Girls between 14 to 18 years: 9 mg per day
• Adult males: 11 mg per day
• Adult females: 8 mg per day

3.    Is it possible to have high levels of Zinc in the body, and what are the symptoms of high levels?

Yes, it is possible to have high levels of Zinc in the body. One may develop zinc toxicity if a body has more than 225 mg of Zinc. Taking zinc supplements for a very long time or living in an industrial area that produces a high amount of Zinc can lead to zinc toxicity. The symptoms of excessive Zinc in the body are:

• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Fever
• Headache
• Zinc Chills
• reduction in WBC
• reduction in good HDL

4.    How quickly Zinc boosts testosterone?

The study shows that the men who take a zinc-rich diet and supplements have shown improved testosterone levels after six months. 

Points to Remember

If you are suffering from low testosterone levels, finding the root cause of the decreased levels is extremely necessary. If the underlying cause is zinc deficiency, a proper diet and a combination of supplements can help maintain the falling levels. Low testosterone levels can be extremely frustrating, leading to a low sex drive.

It is better to talk to your healthcare provider, who is trained to find the root cause of a particular problem. While they may add a little zinc to your life, they can also suggest alternate pathways to maintain a healthy testosterone level.