There is a mineral sitting in your kitchen cupboard — or missing from your diet — that has a more direct impact on your testosterone levels than almost any supplement you've ever paid for. It's not exotic. It's not expensive. And its deficiency is one of the most common and most correctable hormonal problems in men who train hard. That mineral is zinc, and most men who think they're getting enough aren't.
The Zinc–Testosterone Connection Every Man Over 35 Needs to Know
Zinc is not a peripheral player in testosterone production. It is a direct participant. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone to its more potent form dihydrotestosterone, is zinc-dependent.
The Leydig cells in the testes that synthesize testosterone require zinc for normal function. And the pituitary signals that trigger testosterone production — specifically luteinizing hormone — are regulated in part by zinc availability.
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