While most of us would like to think that the pandemic is behind us, the fact remains that Covid-19 is very much still around. Thanks to scientists working round the clock, our understanding of the virus has increased by leaps and bounds. What’s interesting though, is that certain niche groups of research have revealed some pretty interesting observations. Like the fact that Covid-19 constantly displays a higher mortality rate in men.1 Current data suggests a direct correlation between lower levels of serum testosterone and poorer clinical outcomes among male patients with COVID-19.
What’s even worse is that the role of testosterone is a double-edged sword here. While the gradual decline in total and free testosterone levels in males might book you into the ICU much sooner, high testosterone levels however may lead to thrombosis (blood clots), which is an equally fatal manifestation in COVID-19 patients.2 Several publications have also shown that patients who were on testosterone replacement therapy had a significant reduction in hospitalisation and deaths.3
But don’t go scrambling for a testosterone injection just yet. While the findings are somewhat alarming, they are limited and further studies need to be done before a concrete conclusion can be made.4 The take-home message here is that optimal levels of testosterone are important to ensure that all bodily functions are working the way they should be. And there are plenty of natural ways to promote healthy amounts of testosterone in the body.
Exercise and weight lifting – This goes without saying. Increased activity in general is always beneficial. However, resistance training such as weight lifting and high-intensity interval training have been proven to be the best types of exercises to boost testosterone both long and short term.
A proper diet focusing on protein and carb intake – Exercising is nothing without the proper fuel. A proper diet that consists of a healthy balance of protein and carbohydrates, boosted with sufficient healthy fats should be part of the strategy as well.
Vitamin D supplements – The world just can’t get enough of Vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D has been mentioned several times in previous articles and in this one, it’s no different. Apart from various health benefits, it has been proven that supplementing with around 3000iu of Vitamin D3 per day increased testosterone levels by 25%.5
Plenty of restful sleep – After all that exercise and weight lifting, it’s always important to get sufficient sleep at the end of the day. The ideal amount of sleep varies from person to person, but one study found that sleeping only 5 hours per night resulted in a 15% reduction in testosterone levels.6
Ashwagandha, the natural testosterone booster – Not only does ashwagandha increase testosterone levels and boost sperm count7, it also helps in a good night’s sleep, which works well with my previous point about good sleep
As men age, it is inevitable that testosterone levels decline. But that doesn’t mean that your life should go downhill from there. The above methods, if practised properly, will definitely help. But should you feel that you require testosterone replacement therapy or feel the need to check your testosterone levels, we at Custom Medz will be more than glad to refer you to a partner doctor who can help you.
References:
- Jeremy M Auerbach, Mohit Khera. ‘Testosterone’s Role in Covid-19’
- Aneela N Hussain, Fazal Hussain, Shahrul K Hashmi ‘Role of Testosterone in Covid-19 Patients – A Double-edged Sword’
- Geoffrey Hackett, Michael Kirby. ‘Testosterone Deficiency in Men Infected with Covid-19’
- Taylor and Francis Group. ‘Covid-19 May Deplete Testosterone, Helping to Explain Male Patients’ Poorer Prognosis’
- S Pilz, S Frisch, H Koertke. ‘Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Testosterone Levels in Men’
- Rachel Leproult, Eve Van Couter. ‘Effect of 1 Week of Sleep Restriction on Testosterone Levels in Young Healthy Men’
- Vijay R Ambiye, Deepak Langade, Swati Dongre. ‘Clinical Evaluation of the Spermatogenic Activity of the Root Extract of Ashwagandha’