Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "
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23.12.2012 |
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How a flavonoid in parsley boosts testosterone levels
Everyday vegetables such as celery, onions and parsley contain testosterone-enhancing substances that, as we age, prevent our testosterone production from declining. Researchers at Texas Tech University discovered this. In the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry they describe the experiments they did with apigenin, a promising testosterone booster, that's found in high quantities in parsley [structural formula shown here].
Testosterone & aging
A declining testosterone level leads to loss of muscle mass, bone mass and libido, but it also speeds up the development of neurological problems such as Alzheimer's. Epidemiological studies have shown that a high testosterone level protects men against this disease. [Neurology. 2004 Jan 27;62(2):188-93.] According to animal studies, this is because testosterone inhibits the growth of beta-amyloid peptides and the hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein in the brain. [J Neurochem. 2003 Nov;87(4):1052-5.]
The testosterone producing Leydig cells in the testes have receptors for thromboxane A2. Via these receptors thromboxane A2 activates the protein DAX-1, which in turn inhibits the steroidogenic acute regulatory [StAR] protein. The StAR protein plays a key role in the conversion of cholesterol into testosterone. So it's no surprise that administering a COX2 inhibitor boosts the testosterone level in elderly rats. [Endocrinology. 2003 Aug;144(8):3368-75.]
Apigenin
The best sources are parsley and celery. 100 g parsley contain 300 mg apigenin and 100 g of celery leaves contain 56 mg. A bit of Google work and you'll find supplements that contain 50 mg apigenin per capsule.
In vitro study
Conclusion
"It also suggests the potential for a dietary approach for the enhancement of steroidogenesis in aging Leydig cells. Further studies are needed to examine the efficacy of dietary apigenin on testosterone biosynthesis and its effects on the health of aging males."
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