Vitamin D is making headlines again this week, and just in time for Valentine’s Day. New study findings from Austrian researchers have found that vitamin D produced in the skin from sunshine can boost testosterone levels in men – impacting energy levels and libido.
The study, published in the journal Clinical Endocrinology, studied the vitamin D and testosterone levels in over 2200 men, and found that men with the most vitamin D in their blood also had much more testosterone, compared to those who were lacking the ‘sunshine’ vitamin.
Researchers found that in most men, testosterone and vitamin D levels peaked in the summer (August), and were at the lowest levels by late winter (March). Vitamin D is naturally produced in the skin when it’s exposed to sunlight. Studies have shown that most Canadians are lacking the vitamin, especially in the long, dark winter months. Unlike some other vitamins, vitamin D is only found in a handful of foods, including salmon and mackerel.
Further studies are needed to examine whether vitamin D supplements could have a similar effect on testosterone levels in men.
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