Green Tea and Testosterone Levels?

I’ve been reading a lot about all the great effects of green tea (and thus green tea extract). It’s an antioxidant, it promotes fat loss, and makes you have that healthy glow. All of that sounds good, right? Then I ran across an abstract that suggested that green tea might actually REDUCE TESTOSTERONE levels!

Has anybody else heard about this? How significant is the impact? I don’t know enough about SHBG to really make heads or tails of it. Should I stop drinking green tea if I want to be an ultimate T-Man? Or does this help by reducing free estrogen levels too??? Obviously some MAG-10 would probably overwhelm any inhibition from green tea, but I would still love to maximize my gains!

Here’s a quote about the MOA that I found via Google: “For example, high intake of green tea has been associated with higher levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and lowered levels of serum estradiol (estrogen) concentration in women. Increased SHBG may be of help in reducing the effects of androgenetic alopecia. SHBG is a molecule that binds with high affinity to testosterone. Testosterone bound to SHBG is not bioactive and cannot bind to androgen receptors or be converted into dihydrotestosterone. An increase in SHBG concentration effectively reduces free testosterone.”

Thanks a lot!!!

DT

Thought I’d bump this since I recently started drinking green tea by the suggestion of many, particulary this site. This isn’t something I’ve heard before.

I haven’t heard this before but I drink tons of green tea. If anyone can shed some light on this, I’d appreciate it. Perhaps its a case where the benefits far out weight the negatives.

John Berardi recommends green tea. He wouldn’t miss something like that.

[quote]dond1esel wrote:
John Berardi recommends green tea. He wouldn’t miss something like that.[/quote]

Yeah…also if you’ve seen any pictures of him you’ll be reassured that green tea does not inhibit muscle growth to any noticeable degree…

Rim

[quote]davetd02 wrote:
I’ve been reading a lot about all the great effects of green tea (and thus green tea extract). It’s an antioxidant, it promotes fat loss, and makes you have that healthy glow. All of that sounds good, right? Then I ran across an abstract that suggested that green tea might actually REDUCE TESTOSTERONE levels!

Has anybody else heard about this? How significant is the impact? I don’t know enough about SHBG to really make heads or tails of it. Should I stop drinking green tea if I want to be an ultimate T-Man? Or does this help by reducing free estrogen levels too??? Obviously some MAG-10 would probably overwhelm any inhibition from green tea, but I would still love to maximize my gains!

Here’s a quote about the MOA that I found via Google: “For example, high intake of green tea has been associated with higher levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and lowered levels of serum estradiol (estrogen) concentration in women. Increased SHBG may be of help in reducing the effects of androgenetic alopecia. SHBG is a molecule that binds with high affinity to testosterone. Testosterone bound to SHBG is not bioactive and cannot bind to androgen receptors or be converted into dihydrotestosterone. An increase in SHBG concentration effectively reduces free testosterone.”

Thanks a lot!!!

DT[/quote]

You’re Probably Talking about this : (http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2000/20000223-tea.php) article. What you need to read is the portion that states:

In addition to decreased food intake and body weight, rats injected with EGCG had lower levels of testosterone (70 percent less in the bloodstream) and insulin. “These results may not have been a direct result of EGCG since food restriction could also cause these hormones to drop,” said Liao.

Inconclusive at best but I appreciate the fact that you brought this up.

BUMP!

I too would love to hear anyone’s take on this who has further knowledge on the subject. Any T-Nation contributors? Or Bri . . . anyone?

Thanks.

[quote]lesboporn wrote:
davetd02 wrote:
I’ve been reading a lot about all the great effects of green tea (and thus green tea extract). It’s an antioxidant, it promotes fat loss, and makes you have that healthy glow. All of that sounds good, right? Then I ran across an abstract that suggested that green tea might actually REDUCE TESTOSTERONE levels!

Has anybody else heard about this? How significant is the impact? I don’t know enough about SHBG to really make heads or tails of it. Should I stop drinking green tea if I want to be an ultimate T-Man? Or does this help by reducing free estrogen levels too??? Obviously some MAG-10 would probably overwhelm any inhibition from green tea, but I would still love to maximize my gains!

Here’s a quote about the MOA that I found via Google: “For example, high intake of green tea has been associated with higher levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and lowered levels of serum estradiol (estrogen) concentration in women. Increased SHBG may be of help in reducing the effects of androgenetic alopecia. SHBG is a molecule that binds with high affinity to testosterone. Testosterone bound to SHBG is not bioactive and cannot bind to androgen receptors or be converted into dihydrotestosterone. An increase in SHBG concentration effectively reduces free testosterone.”

Thanks a lot!!!

DT

You’re Probably Talking about this : (http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2000/20000223-tea.php) article. What you need to read is the portion that states:

In addition to decreased food intake and body weight, rats injected with EGCG had lower levels of testosterone (70 percent less in the bloodstream) and insulin. “These results may not have been a direct result of EGCG since food restriction could also cause these hormones to drop,” said Liao.

Inconclusive at best but I appreciate the fact that you brought this up. [/quote]

That about sums it up.