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Testosterone is important as it maintains our physical strength, our focus, and our mood, but do you an idea about testosterone production? How is it made?

It’s not just an academic question. An understanding of how our bodies produce testosterone leads to an understanding of what might cause our bodies to stop producing enough of the stuff, and understanding a problem is the first step to solving it.

Testosterone Production 101 – The Three Types of Testosterone

In essence, testosterone is a steroid hormone. The changes and benefits it triggers in the body are detailed right over here. The average male human creates 7mg of testosterone per day, but there are actually three different types. Not all of it is usable by the body, or at least not to produce the effects you’re probably looking for.

Free Testosterone

Free testosterone is so named because it has no attached proteins. It’s free to float through the bloodstream, and isn’t bonded to any other molecules. Free testosterone is the type of testosterone that has all those great physical and mental benefits, because it’s able to roam our bodies and activate receptors in various cells. Even though this is the kind of testosterone we think of as the most beneficial, it has the smallest concentration of the three. It only comprises about 2%-3% of our total testosterone levels. Everything we do for testosterone production is really meant to increase free testosterone, but the best way to do that is to raise our overall levels.

SHBG-Bound Testosterone

This type of the male hormone makes up about 40%-50% of our total testosterone levels. It’s bound to SHBG (sex hormone-binding-globulin), which is a protein produced in the liver. It regulates the amount of free testosterone in the body. SHBG-Bound Testosterone is what’s known as “biologically inactive”, meaning it doesn’t actually have any other effect in our bodies beyond helping regulate our total levels. This type of T doesn’t have harmful effects either, but it is why a man might test with adequately high testosterone levels but still experience the symptoms of testosterone deficiency.

Albumin-Bound Testosterone

This makes up the remainder of our total testosterone. It’s bound to the protein albumin, which is also produced in the liver. Its function is to stabilize fluid volumes between our cells. Albumin-Bound Testosterone is also biologically inactive, but unlike the SHBG-Bound variety, its bond can be broken. That converts it back into free testosterone, making the stuff sort of testosterone reserve supply.

About 95% of our testosterone is produced in the testicles. The rest is made in our adrenal glands, which is why the hormone is present in women as well. For men, though, it’s almost entirely the testicles.

It’s a pretty complex process that results in the male hormone. Learn about testosterone production in this basic rundown:

The hypothalamus (part of the brain) secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone. This stuff loops around to the back of the brain and hits the pituitary gland.

The pituitary gland receives the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and responds by producing two more hormones. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Both of these natural chemicals enter the bloodstream and make their way to the testicles.

Once they’ve arrived down there, the FSH and LH do two different things. FSH initiates sperm production (important!), while LH kicks off testosterone production (just as important!)

The actual cells that create the testosterone are called Leydig cells. They work by converting cholesterol into testosterone. That cholesterol literally comes from the bloodstream, which is why a healthy level of T can actually improve your heart health. It’s also the reason eating eggs is so beneficial to testosterone levels!

During testosterone production, it’s released by the testicles into the bloodstream. Most of the stuff attaches to SHBG and albumin, nullifying its effects. It’s the small amount that remains free that aids our strength, focus, sexual drive, and all the other great benefits of testosterone.

Here’s a handy chart of the HPA-axis:

Image source: Wikipedia

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Saleamp Design November 4th, 2016

Posted In: Low T Info

Tags: albumin, biologically available, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, free testosterone, FSH, GnRH, growth hormone, HPA axis, hypothalamus, LH, low t, Luteinizing Hormone, pituitary, sex hormone-binding-globulin, SHBG, testicles, testosterone, testosterone levels, testosterone production

Does the FDA Approve or Test Testosterone Supplements?

No. Supplement manufacturers, and distributors, have no FDA testing or approval requirements. Since there is no testing, there is not the same type of oversight on medications that go through rigorous testing programs before it can be released to the public.

These rigorous testing programs also limit what pharmaceutical companies can and cannot say when marketing their products which oversight supplement companies do not have to worry about. When Hormone Therapeutics prescribes Testosterone and other hormones these products are created and tested in sterile laboratories and marketing regulations are very specific on what one can and cannot say as far as the efficacy of the product. A Supplement firm is only responsible for ensuring, ON THEIR OWN, that:

The testosterone supplements are safe
Claims are not false or misleading
The supplement complies with FDA regulations

Essentially, they are allowed to police themselves and only under scrutiny if someone complains.

Testosterone Supplements We Believe In

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 is actually a hormone and not a vitamin. Vitamin D3 provides a whole host of health benefits. We naturally make vitamin D from the sun, but only when we are outside. Studies are showing we getting sub deprived as Westerners spend more time inside. Sunscreen also inhibits vitamin D3 production which can hinder testosterone production. Studies have shown that men who take Vitamin D3 supplements see a boost in testosterone levels.

Omega-3 Fish Oil

Fish oil lower SHBG and increase LH (Luteinizing Hormone) production. LH is the key precursor hormone triggering the gonads to produce testosterone. It’s a good fat and great for the heart.

Whey Protein + Creatine shake

Whey protein in an unsweet coconut milk shake with a scoop of creatine is a good pre workout to fuel muscles and help them rebuild afterwards.

Testosterone Supplement We Deem Unnecessary

Vitamin C

There are many internet ads touting Vitamin C’s benefits for “how to increase testosterone”. Most of us get enough Vitamin C from our diets and the only studies we found that showed Vitamin C increasing testosterone levels was in diabetic mice. So, if you are a diabetic mouse, up your Vitamin C.