Men’s Vitality & Hormone Support

Written by Dr. Ryan Kneessi, ND

The mechanisms this protocol supports

Testosterone is made in the testes through steps that rely on zinc and are influenced by vitamin D. Testosterone levels gradually decline with age, and poor sleep, excess body fat and blood sugar problems can speed that decline.

The HPA axis controls cortisol, the main stress hormone, and chronically high cortisol can compete with healthy testosterone signaling. Muscle and mitochondrial energy also matter, because strength and lean mass support metabolic health as men get older.

Research has linked low zinc and vitamin D status with lower testosterone levels, and randomized trials have linked ashwagandha root extract with lower cortisol and modest gains in testosterone and strength. Research has also linked higher magnesium status with healthier testosterone levels.

What is in the protocol

The exact products and directions are listed in the Fullscript plan, and here is what each one is commonly used to support.

• Zinc Picolinate from Thorne provides a well-absorbed form of zinc, a mineral needed to make testosterone.
• Vitamin D + K2 Liquid from Thorne provides vitamin D, which immune, muscle and bone cells all rely on, together with vitamin K2, which helps direct calcium into bone.
• KSM-66 Ashwagandha from Protocol for Life Balance provides a standardized ashwagandha root extract, which has been studied for supporting a healthy stress response, strength and testosterone.
• Creatine from Thorne supports the rapid recycling of ATP, the energy currency of muscle and brain cells. It supports strength, lean mass and workout recovery.
• Magnesium Glycinate Complex from Designs for Health provides a gentle form of magnesium that supports sleep and muscle function.

Related protocols you may find helpful include Muscle, Strength & Healthy Aging and Stress and Adrenal Support.

How to use it thoughtfully

Please talk with your provider before starting, especially if you take medications, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition. This page does not list amounts, so follow the label or the specific guidance your provider gives you. When you can, add one product at a time so it is easier to notice how you feel. Sleep, nourishing food, daily movement and stress care are the foundation, and supplements are meant to build on them.

Ashwagandha can interact with thyroid medication, sedatives, blood sugar medications and immune-suppressing medications, so please check with your prescriber first. Ashwagandha is not for use during pregnancy, and rare liver reactions have been reported, so stop it and contact your provider if you notice dark urine or yellowing of the skin or eyes. Zinc used for long periods can lower copper levels, and if you have kidney disease, please talk with your provider before using creatine. Vitamin K2 can interact with warfarin, so please check with your prescriber before starting if you take a blood thinner. Anyone with symptoms of low testosterone should have labs and a medical evaluation.

What the research shows

This protocol has not been tested as a whole in a clinical trial, so the studies below cover its main ingredients.

Zinc and testosterone are linked. In a 1996 study by Prasad and colleagues, restricting zinc in four young men for 20 weeks lowered testosterone from about 39.9 to 10.6 nmol/L, and giving zinc to nine older men with marginal zinc status raised it from 8.3 to 16.0 nmol/L over six months. These groups were very small, and zinc is unlikely to raise testosterone in men whose zinc is already adequate.

Ashwagandha was tested in a 2019 crossover trial by Lopresti and colleagues of 57 overweight men aged 40 to 70 with mild fatigue. Over eight weeks, ashwagandha raised DHEA-S by 18% and testosterone by 14.7% more than placebo, but fatigue, vigor and sexual well-being did not differ between groups. The authors called for larger studies.

For stress, a 2012 trial by Chandrasekhar and colleagues in 64 adults found that 300 mg of ashwagandha root extract twice daily for 60 days lowered stress scores and blood cortisol more than placebo. It was a single-center study of one extract.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Prasad AS, et al. Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. Nutrition 1996. PMID: 8875519. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8875519/
• Wehr E, et al. Association of vitamin D status with serum androgen levels in men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2010. PMID: 20050857. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20050857/
• Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med 2012. PMID: 23439798. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3573577/
• Wankhede S, et al. Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2015. PMID: 26609282. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4658772/
• Maggio M, et al. Magnesium and anabolic hormones in older men. Int J Androl 2011. PMID: 21675994. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4623306/

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