Truffle Oil And T
Testosterone is needed in both men AND women for sex organs and characteristics, as well as for muscle growth, bone development, bone maintenance and more.
The production of testosterone is regulated by the brain. Healthy young men produce about 6 milligrams of testosterone per day and healthy women produce 0.3 mg of testosterone per day ( 1/20th of what men produce).
Low T
While age can naturally decrease testosterone levels, many individuals suffer from lower than normal levels of testosterone. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including aging, stress, depression, injury, disease, cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, chromosomal abnormalities, drug use, medications (including antidepressants and oral birth control) and obesity.
Symptoms of low testosterone in men include decreased libido, infertility, erectile dysfunction, loss of hair, decreased muscle mass, osteoporosis, and in women include hot flashes, irritability, decreased libido, sleep disturbances, loss of muscle mass, osteoporosis, and loss of body hair.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Treatments for low testosterone currently include hormone replacement therapy (HRT or TRT—testosterone replacement therapy). Testosterone can be given to men as an intramuscular injection, patch or gel placed on the skin, or applied to the gums of the mouth.
ANDROGEL® (Abbott Laboratories) is one product on the market for TRT for men that contains synthetic testosterone, and when applied to the skin, it increases the concentration of testosterone. The dose used is 100 times as what is present in the blood!
Unfortunately, there is no mainstream accepted treatment available for women. Some women resort to using patches available for men and cutting them to a size more appropriate of a dose for women, but this has questionable accuracy and safety. I typically go outside the standard of care and prescribe it for my female patients via a compounding pharmacy.
But could there be another way?
Truffles
Enter Androstenol (a hormone like pheromone), contained in truffles, it is thought to explain how truffle pigs are able to locate these amazing mushrooms.
In 2006 it was discovered that, in addition to androstenol, the truffle produces testosterone, which might explain the ‘testosterone effect’ in pigs. When pigs smell truffles, they don’t eat as much, their body fat lowers and they become more lean. Androstenol may also be the reason truffles are thought to have aphrodisiac potential.
The pig provides a closely related model needed in human therapeutic medicine as we share a huge amount of genetic material. So, this opens up the possibility that by smelling a truffle extract, androgens in the truffle extract can attach to the olfactory bulb in men and women, inducing testosterone production.
Improving androgen levels (including testosterone) has been linked to Alzheimer's disease prevention, treating the symptoms of menopause (including hot flashes and insomnia), increasing libido, improving bone health and even cardiovascular disease. It can improve vitality, well-being, mood, mortality, sexuality (libido drive and performance), muscle (lean body mass and muscle), immunity, bone mass and repair, platelet aggregation, cognition, blood pressure, HDL cholesterol levels, and sleep quality. Healthy testosterone levels can reduce abdominal fat (fat suppresses LH action and therefore testosterone production) and also decrease the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
While it’s too early to see truffle oil extract as a medical prescription, there are patents in the works, so keep your nose ready.
Sniff sniff, do you smell that?
I think it’s hormone health.
💕
Dr. Laura Neville