EVOO supplementation in male athletes

Benefits of EVOO Supplementation in Male Athletes

An olive oil supplement increases testosterone levels while reducing stress hormones in male athletes. This is confirmed by a study published by researchers in Algeria, which showed that supplementation with extra virgin olive oil can improve the hormonal status of male athletes.

The study was conducted on healthy male athletes aged 19 and 22 years and found that consumption of extra virgin olive oil was associated with a statistically significant increase in testosterone in the supplemented groups compared to athletes in the non-supplemented groups and sedentary control subjects.

Numerous studies have investigated the influence of exercise on hormonal balance and recognized that exercise is an important regulator of hormone secretion. Physical stress, which depends on factors such as the type and intensity of exercise and individual health, can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.

Some studies have found that exercise has minimal effects on semen quality, while others report a reduction in sperm count and motility. The effects on serum testosterone levels can vary depending on the intensity and duration of exercise. Athletes often use supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, antioxidants, and vitamins to optimize their performance.

The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, is popular among athletes due to its potential health benefits. Virgin and extra virgin olive oils are characterized by monounsaturated fatty acids and phytochemicals such as polyphenols, squalene, and alpha-tocopherol.

The study, published in the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, focused on the effects of virgin olive oil from Blanquette olives, which constitute a significant part of the eastern Algerian harvest. Indeed, this variety is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic and linoleic acid, and meets the quality standards of the International Olive Oil Council.

The oil is also rich in phenolic compounds and carotenoids, making it a powerful source of antioxidants. In addition, it exhibits a high percentage of inhibition of the DPPH radical and hydrogen peroxide, indicating its powerful antioxidant properties.

The Study with EVOO

The study group consisted of 30 healthy male athletes aged 19 and 22, all free of cardiovascular risk factors. They were divided into three groups with different treatment plans for ten weeks.

Group 1 received 20 milliliters of virgin olive oil daily without any special training. Group 2 performed exercise routines five days a week and received the same olive oil supplement. Group 3 completed the same exercise routine but did not receive olive oil as a dietary supplement.

The olive oil supplement was well tolerated, and participants reported no side effects. The training of both runner groups included a 10-week program with aerobic and interval exercises.

Training intensity and duration gradually increased during the program. The untrained runners in Group 3 trained less than two hours per week, which is in line with general training recommendations. Race duration varied between the groups, with an average duration of 2 hours and 11 minutes for the half marathon.

Blood samples were taken at various time points during the study, with fasting samples taken before and after the 10-week training program and two days before and 24 hours after the half marathon. The samples were analyzed for testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, cortisol, and insulin.

Testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels were noticeably lower in Group 3, the runners who did not receive any supplements, while cortisol increased significantly in this group after the 10-hour workout.

In addition, luteinizing hormone concentrations decreased in runners who did not receive supplements compared to Group 2 and sedentary controls. Other hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone and insulin, showed no significant differences between the three groups.

The effects of exercise on male reproductive function are diverse and are influenced by the intensity and duration of exercise, as well as the individual fitness level.

The results showed that runners who did not receive supplements (Group 3) had reduced testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels. These hormones are known to decrease during intense exercise, which can impair male reproductive function.

The group supplemented with virgin olive oil (Group 2) showed the highest levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone, indicating the potential benefits of olive oil supplementation for improving of these hormones. The effect may be due to the oil’s rich composition of tocopherols and other antioxidants.

Olive oil can stimulate testosterone production through various mechanisms, for example, by influencing cholesterol metabolism, steroidogenic proteins, or the pituitary-testicular axis. In particular, vitamin E, which is abundant in olive oil, also plays a role in testosterone production and testicular function.

In addition, some fatty acids and plant polyphenols have been shown to prevent the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, adding to the complexity of olive oil’s influence on hormonal balance.

Cortisol, a primary stress hormone, increases with the intensity and duration of exercise. In the study, runners who did not receive supplements showed significantly higher cortisol levels after 10 weeks of training, but all values ​​remained within the reference range.

Cortisol and testosterone represent the balance between catabolic and anabolic processes. Supplementation with extra virgin olive oil was associated with reduced cortisol levels, suggesting a possible stress-reducing effect. Improving this balance may also contribute to the preservation or restoration of fertility.

These results suggest that olive oil may play an important role in improving the health and performance of athletes and highlight the potential nutritional and therapeutic benefits of using olive oil. Olives, a staple of the Mediterranean diet, are essential in the diets of physically active individuals.

The richness of antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids in extra virgin olive oil may contribute to improving hormonal status in physically active individuals.