Can B-Vitamin Increase Testosterone? : Scientific Evidence

When you look at the formulation of various testosterone-boosting supplements, one of the most common ingredients that you will probably run into in almost every product is vitamin B. There has to be some good reason for this.

Well, the vitamin B group contributes to a multitude of processes in the body and also supports testosterone health. This is the reason why the majority of testosterone boosters include vitamin B in their blend. But, let me clarify that not all forms of Vitamin B influence testosterone directly. Instead, they benefit certain crucial body processes which then increase testosterone production.

Let’s take a look at the role of vitamin B in testosterone production, what research says, and more.

Types Of B Vitamins

Many of you know the B vitamin as B-complex, but, if we breakdown this group, then it is composed of eight individual compounds with different names as follows:

B1 (Thiamine)	B6 (Pyridoxine)
B2 (Riboflavin)	B7 (Biotin)
B3 (Niacin)	B9 (Folic Acid, or Folate)
B5 (Pantothenic Acid)	B12

Each of these vitamins is important for a healthy body in its own way. We should know that while most of these are sourced from various foods that we eat every day, certain diets lack some of these vitamins, especially B3, B6, and B12 vitamins. All three forms play their part in maintaining a healthy testosterone level and need to be restored in a timely manner. In fact, the B vitamins serve as a cofactor (helper) in various metabolic processes of food and fat which support testosterone production.

It is also important to note that Vitamin B is a water-soluble compound that cannot be stored in the body for long. This means that we should regularly replenish these vitamins in addition to taking them in adequate quantity.

Vitamin B In Testosterone Boosters: Scientific Evidence That We Have

The most common forms of Vitamin B used in some of the top testosterone-boosting supplements are vitamins B6, B12, and B3 but other forms are also present in some depending on the supplement.

Some fundamental research studies have found that vitamin B6 does have a role to play in the production of testosterone. While it does not have any direct impact on the Luteinizing Hormone production or the Leydig cells which induce testosterone production, it acts as a factor in improving metabolic function which is important for testosterone production.

Vitamin B12 is yet another form that supports testosterone production in its own way. I came across another clinical study conducted on more than 150 men with Chronic testicular pain (CTP) and found that they had a deficiency of either vitamin B12 or testosterone. Supplementation of B12 can be beneficial in increasing blood circulation, which helps in improving testosterone health, testicular function and even improving sperm quality.

B12 along with other B vitamins is also known to support cognitive function, reduce mental fatigue, boost metabolism and energy, and support various other functions at the cellular level. All of these support the production of testosterone. Studies have revealed that vitamin B3, in its most potent form, helps in the release of the growth hormone. This is useful in muscle formation which improves fat metabolism and increases athletic performance which are key to improving testosterone production.

So basically, while the vitamin B group does have an important role in testosterone synthesis, I would say more research on this subject can be even more helpful.

Foods Rich In Vitamin B

Vitamin B is found abundantly in many different foods. This makes it pretty easy to supplement it from your daily diet. Below I have listed some of the food where you can source vitamin B from:

• Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, Romaine lettuce, etc.
• Fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and shellfish like oysters
• Milk and cheese
• Eggs
• Meat and liver of different meats
• Beetroot, Potatoes
• Legumes and whole grains
• Different types of nuts and seeds
• Soy-based products
• Different types of fruits

It is best to eat a combination of different kinds of foods from the above list in order to get all forms of vitamin B in adequate amounts. It will give an overall nutritional boost and fight deficiencies. Aside from that, if you are working on improving your testosterone levels and taking testosterone boosters, these usually include some of the most potent ingredients like fenugreek, nettle leaf, boron, etc. Vitamin B helps in breaking down these ingredients for the body to absorb easily which further increases the efficacy of these supplements.

Conclusion

Vitamin B is an important nutrient our body needs for carrying out various body processes smoothly. They may not impact the production of testosterone directly but all the forms of vitamin B are important contributors in various metabolic functions. Better metabolism of different nutrients like amino acids, cholesterol, minerals, etc. then aids in testosterone production in different ways.

We looked through some of the top research studies in this article which show how vitamin B is associated with testosterone health. It is important to understand that each of the vitamin compounds is important which means supplementation of just one of these alone will not be effective.