New member questioning need for TRT

[Rangeball]

Hello to all

I've been reading and searching past posts trying to verse myself in the excellent information stored here. I'm a 40 year old male who is experiencing some of the common symptoms of low T such as irritability and mood swings, some lethargy, lowered libido and erectile response, etc.

I've been looking into HRT for men, but it's occured to me that since I've been chronically dieting for what seems like most of my life, perhaps my issues are related to dieting and not "traditional" hypogonadism. I've never done any AAS or pro-hormones of any type, but have lifted weights since I was a teenager. I've fluctuated between the low teens and high 20's in BF%.

While it is attractive to pursue HRT while dieting to get the best of both worlds, I'm leary of doing so as if my issues are truly diet related, I don't wish to permanently supress my natural T production, which I understand is a risk. I was hoping Swale or others could discuss how diet and dieting affects natural T levels, and what steps I could examine to best decide if my issues are natural or diet induced.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts shared

 

[mranak]

When you 'diet', do you severely restrict your calories or do you feel like your blood sugar is really low?

The best advice I can offer is to get some bloodwork done. It is all total speculation without bloodwork. SWALE recommends a big list of labs that you may have a hard time convincing your physician to run. Try and at least get free testosterone and estradiol (sensitive) tests run. Higher bf generally means more aromatase enzyme which generally means higher estradiol. High estradiol can certainly cause hypogonadal symptoms.

Are you dieting right now?

 

[Rangeball]

When you 'diet', do you severely restrict your calories or do you feel like your blood sugar is really low?

Yes, I tend to use a large deficit when I cut. Many times it is PSMF levels, ie basal protein needs plus ancillary fats and carbs. This is typically followed M-F with "normal" eating up to maintenance cals on Saturday and Sunday.

The best advice I can offer is to get some bloodwork done. It is all total speculation without bloodwork. SWALE recommends a big list of labs that you may have a hard time convincing your physician to run. Try and at least get free testosterone and estradiol (sensitive) tests run.

I suspect T is low, and E is probably high, but if it is due to dieting, is HRT warranted? What happens when I stop dieting, do I go off HRT or will my natural production kick back up?

Are you dieting right now?

Yes.

 

[pmgamer18]

If I were you I would get tested to see and if your T levels are low then stop the diet and see if you go back up. Diet and over working out will drive you T levels down.
Phil

 

[cpeil2]

Yes, I tend to use a large deficit when I cut. Many times it is PSMF levels, ie basal protein needs plus ancillary fats and carbs. This is typically followed M-F with "normal" eating up to maintenance cals on Saturday and Sunday.

You didn't mention what portion of your calories come from fat. Extreme low fat diets are supposed to be bad for T level. 30-40% of your calories from fat is better. Those are primarily healthy fats, of course with enough saturated fat to support synthesis of steroid hormones.

 

[Weatherlite]

There are a lot of factors out there when looking at how diet affects T levels. Yes, first and foremost is fat. Without adequate fat intake hormonal production suffers. However, cholesterol levels play a big part in this too. A total chol level of less than 140 severely curtails T production as well.

What kind of "diet" you're on matters. Typically a bodybuilder type diet designed for a natural bb'er would be best. Get about 30% fat, 40% protein and 30% carbs. The protein and carbs can be played around with as needed. Just remember some finer points. These percentages are in calories. 30% from fat comes quick because fat has 9 calories per gram versus 4/g for carbs and protein. Try to cut out trans fats completely. These are the "partially hydrogenated" oils. Carbs-good, quality carbs. Whole grains-veggies etc etc. Try to stay away from sugars and such unless it's part of a post-workout drink. Protein-get lots of it from a variety of sources. Whole foods should comprise the majority of it but don't leave out a protein shake around the workouts and perhaps before bed as well.

Now, IF you had all of that tweaked you STILL have to consider other factors as well such as toxins. Smoke? Drink? (to excess) Live in an area with lots of pollution? Use products with nasty preservatives like BHA and BHT? All of these things have contributed over the years to our declining health. I'm sure they play a role in lowered T levels.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that if you want, get your life in order. Eat the way you KNOW you will be eating...don't set yourself up by eating right for 3 months, getting the tests which say you're good and then switch back to eating like crap. Once your life is as it will be for a long time THEN do your tests. This will give you the most accurate picture of whether you would be helped by TRT.

Just my .02

 

[earthdog]

it's occured to me that since I've been chronically dieting for what seems like most of my life, perhaps my issues are related to dieting and not "traditional" hypogonadism. I've never done any AAS or pro-hormones of any type, but have lifted weights since I was a teenager. I've fluctuated between the low teens and high 20's in BF%.

Welcome!

The flip side of this coin could be that you are chronically dieting for most of your life because your hormones are out of balance. To test this theory, my suggestion would be to eat well as Weatherlite suggests for a few weeks or months, then get tested. Minimally, have the doctor check your total T, free T, estradiol, DHT and thyroid.

 

[Rangeball]

Thanks for the input.

I agree that getting tested while on a non-dieted state is optimal, but what's holding me back is I've never been able to find a definitive recommendation for how long one should be eating "normally" before getting tested. I've seen statements ranging from weeks to many months.

Swale, if a patient comes to you that has been eating at a high deficit while losing fat, what do you recommend? Does anyone else know?

 

[buck]

It would seem to me IMHO if this is a long term hormone imbalance then once you start eating correctly it would take awhile for your hormones to even start to get back to "normal". I would guess4-6 months would be the minimum. I dought there have been any decent studies in this area.