Posted by ryanz on January 2, 2007, at 18:33:00
In reply to Testosterone to help with depression?, posted by Reggie BoStar on December 28, 2006, at 15:31:35
> Hi Everyone,
> I tested really low for Testosterone, so my MD >has written a prescription for me. He said that >in addition to restoring the hormone to normal >levels for someone my age, it might also help >with depression by giving me motivation and >energy.Something I'd like to point out is that it's important to test testosterone levels in the morning, as the levels fall drastically throughout the day and test result values are based on studies with early morning blood draw. Really, you'd want to have blood drawn right at 8:00AM, assuming you usually are up by 7:00AM. Ideally, you'd also want to test levels of "free" testosterone at the same time, which can be done either with blood or saliva. It's levels of free testosterone that are most important.
The problem with supplementing with testosterone is that it can cause your own body's production to decline further and make the root problem worse.
Poor nutrition and health status can lead to low testosterone levels in middle aged and sometimes younger men. A simple deficiency in zinc is a common culprit. And sometimes extra zinc beyond the RDA can boost testosterone levels above baseline over a period of months. Hopefully you are eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking at least a standard multi-vitamin, because a lower testosterone level in someone who is not yet middle aged (you don't mention your age) can be a reflection of general vitality and health, and supplementing with exogenous testosterone may be the wrong answer to the problem.
poster:ryanz
thread:716983
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070101/msgs/718635.html