Very low-calorie ketogenic diet improves Total testosterone in obese non-diabetic males

A new study conducted by Angelo Cignarelli and team showed that in obese male non-diabetic adults, very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) causes fast improvements in total testosterone (TT) levels linked with weight reduction, especially when obesity-related hypogonadism is present.

The findings of the study were published in Andrology Journal.

The very low-calorie ketogenic diet offers obese individuals a chance to lose weight that is clinically significant. Functional hypogonadism is a common hormonal condition marked by low testosterone and subnormal LH levels that is linked to obesity and the buildup of visceral fat. In order to assess the early effects of VLCKD on blood total testosterone levels in non-diabetic obese individuals, this study was carried out.

For this study, twenty-two obese male patients were enrolled and received a 28-day course of VLCKD treatment (mean age 39.3 ± 11.7 years, mean BMI 38.2 ± 6.4 kg/m2). Prior to, during, and following a diet intervention, anthropometric and hormonal characteristics were evaluated.

The key findings of this study were:

A substantial and stable decrease in body weight, BMI, fat mass, blood sugar, insulin, and HOMA index was seen after 7 and 28 days on a VLCKD in comparison to baseline. 

After 7 days (+35 ± 64 ng/dl) and 28 days (+74 ± 97 ng/dl ng/dl) on a VLCKD, TT greatly increased. 

Along with TT, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels in the blood significantly increased after 7 (+2.1 ± 4.1) and 28 (+7.7 ± 10.0) days. 

After 7 or 28 days of VLCKD, however, neither computed free testosterone nor LH changed.

Contrary to eugonadal subjects, hypogonadal subjects experienced greater weight loss overall (8.5 ± 1.5%), greater weight loss (-9.94 ± 1.66 kg), greater reductions in fat mass (-7 ± 2.1 kg), and greater reductions in waist circumference (-6.31 ± 2.65 cm), as well as greater improvements in glycaemia (-8.75 ± 10.92 mg/dl). 

Additionally, compared to eugonadal patients, hypogonadal subjects showed a trend toward a larger TT rise (+98.12 ± 71.51 ng/dl).

Reference:

Cignarelli, A., Santi, D., Genchi, V. A., Conte, E., Giordano, F., Leo, S. D., Natalicchio, A., Laviola, L., Giorgino, F., & Perrini, S. (2022). Very low‐calorie ketogenic diet rapidly augments testosterone levels in non‐diabetic obese subjects. In Andrology. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.13357