It is known that testosterone levels in men can be influenced by the diet, particularly the fat and total energy levels. However, other macronutrients may also have an effect. Some evidence suggests that the protein to carbohydrate ratio may significantly affect certain aspects of steroid hormone metabolism. For example, in one study, researchers found that testosterone levels were significantly higher after a high carbohydrate diet compared to a high protein diet that both lasted for ten days. However, accompanying the changes, the levels of sex hormone bonding globulin also increased. This suggests that the amount of free testosterone, available to elicit growth and regeneration, did not change significantly. The high carbohydrate diet was however also accompanied by a reduction in plasma levels of cortisol, and this was also accompanied by lower levels of cortisol binding protein. Therefore a higher carbohydrate diet may have anti-catabolic effects, but the benefits to anabolism through increased testosterone may be negligible.
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