Does Vitamin K Increase Testosterone Levels? Know Science!

Vitamin K is one of the most infrequently discussed micronutrients among all the vitamins and minerals but several testosterone boosters have it on their label. It isn’t one of those vitamins that people typically take as an isolated dietary supplement like vitamin B or D. Instead, it is sourced from various foods like leafy greens, broccoli, meat, and eggs among others. Interestingly, most people looking for natural ways to boost testosterone come across vitamin K as a beneficial nutrient in this regard.

We have researched the different ways in which vitamin K supports testosterone improvements, its mechanism and its effectiveness. Let’s Find out below.

Relationship Between SHBG, Testosterone, And Vitamin K

Prior to getting into the intricacies of vitamin K’s involvement in supporting testosterone production, let’s understand the connection between testosterone and SHBG. Well, if you have been following my articles on various supplements or others surrounding testosterone, you would by now probably know how sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) interacts with testosterone.

Testosterone is present in the body in two forms- one is ‘free’ testosterone and the other is blood or “bound” testosterone. SHBG is a blood protein (or blood cells) that carries the sex hormones (testosterone) through the blood by attaching itself to the free testosterone. Studies have shown that nearly 70% of the testosterone produced by the body is bound to SHBG. When needed, these blood cells (SHBG) regulate blood clotting and vitamin K plays a key role in the process.

Recent studies have revealed that a supporting protein called Protein S synthesized in the Leydig cells just like testosterone is involved in this mechanism. SHBG and Protein S interact with each other and with other proteins to facilitate the blood clotting process. A deficiency in Vitamin K can impair the blood clotting process which is where the link is established.

All of these lay the groundwork for the examinations on vitamin K we will explore below. Let’s take a look.

Vitamin K Helps Boost Testosterone Levels – Scientific Correlation

Delving into the available studies, We found quite a few of them in support of the Vitamin K- Testosterone relationship. Let’s take a look at the human studies first followed by clinical trials on animals.

Human Trials

One of the significant studies, although conducted quite a few years back, has become a basis for understanding the effects and contributions of vitamin K in the body. The finding of the study highlighted a couple of things- Firstly, Protein S formed in the Testicular Leydig Cells depends on Vitamin K for its activities. This is the source of testosterone production as well. Secondly, it has structural similarity with the androgen binding proteins and SHBG.

Given that blood thinners can make people bleed profusely, there should be a measure to control it to avoid its effect on the heart. Researchers have established through studies that Vitamin K can significantly contribute to blood clot regulation.

Moreover, we came across another classic study showing the similarity between Sex hormone-binding globulin, androgen-binding protein, and vitamin K-dependent Protein S. The team also found that with every vitamin K administration, there was an increase in testosterone levels. Furthermore, the study suggested that vitamin K is required for each and every body process that involves the use of testosterone.

Finally, there is another comprehensive study on the impact of vitamin K on bone mass suggesting that an increased amount of vitamin K is associated with improved bone density and strength in pre-adolescent children. This can possibly be because of its ability to improve the impact of vitamin D (which plays a key role in testosterone synthesis). However, further studies are needed to come to a proper conclusion on this.

Animal Studies

Aside from these, there are a couple of compelling animal studies on vitamin K’s influence and correlation with testosterone.

One study was conducted to evaluate the effect of vitamin K on testicles and its contribution to steroidogenesis. The test subjects were supplemented with this vitamin for 5 weeks. At the end of the trial, researchers found that there was a significant rise in testosterone levels in the test group when compared to the controlled one which concludes that vitamin K triggers testosterone production at the source- the testicles.

In another study, researchers examined the importance of dietary vitamin K and the impact of deficiency of this vitamin on testicular functioning. It also investigated whether vitamin K influences testicular steroidogenesis in lipopolysaccharide-induced rats. The test subjects were given low low-vitamin K diet for 35 days.

At the end of the trial period, the team found that there was a significant reduction in testicular testosterone production in the rats because of vitamin K deficiency. The same study also concluded that the anti-inflammatory properties of Vitamin K can reduce inflammation caused in the testicular cells which helps in testosterone production and maintenance.

How To Get Enough Of Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin which means it can be easily stored in the body and used as and when needed. The best part is this vitamin can be sourced from some of the easily accessible foods that can be added to your daily diet. All you need to do is shift to a healthy diet to boost your vitamin K levels.

Some of the best sources of Vitamin K include:

Kale	Cabbage	Spinach	Turnip greens	Collards
Swiss chard	Mustard greens	Broccoli	Meat / Chicken	Green Beans
Prunes	Kiwi	Soyabean Oil	Green Peas	Avacado

In addition to improving your vitamin K levels through these food sources, if you are looking to fix your low testosterone levels naturally, there is a list of top testosterone boosters that we have curated after exhaustive research that you can take a look at. All these supplements contain vitamin K in addition to other proven testosterone-enhancing ingredients that you can benefit from.

Conclusion

The straight answer to the question of whether vitamin K can boost testosterone is – Yes, it definitely does. Numerous studies (both human and animal trials) have demonstrated that there is a direct and strong correlation between vitamin K with the male sex hormone.

The only thing is, where most of the testosterone-boosting ingredients directly influence the most commonly known parameters of testosterone like muscles, mood, or energy, Vitamin K works differently. It helps regulate the blood clotting mechanism which is vital for living by significantly increasing protein S-associated testosterone in the form of sex hormone binding globule (SHBG). It is also an essential element in every biochemical process where testosterone is needed.