Friday, March 19, 2010

Does potassium control testosterone secretion?

To recap; we have five senses of taste. Sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami.

Insulin associates with the sense of sweet and regulates glutamine.

Leptin associates with the sense of umami and regulates glutamate.

Amylin associates with the sense of sour and regulates lactate.


So we're down to salty and bitter. Let's do salty next.

The obvious choice for a nutrient that the salty receptors are particularly attuned to is sodium, but I believe this is a modern distortion, and that potassium is the nutrient involved here.

L. Frassetto, R. Curtis Morris, Jr. and A. Sebastian did a study where they supplemented the diets of postmenopausal women with potassium bicarbonate.

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/1/254


The theory is that the acid/base balance of the body determines protein wasting; when the system is less acidic, less nitrogen is lost in the urine. I've been doubtful about this study's results, more nitrogen might have been lost in the stool, but I now find myself less skeptical.

What causes an increase in muscle mass? Ask a bodybuilder, he'll know. Testosterone.


http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200707/000020070707A0256523.php




We report for the first time that supraphysiological concentrations of
testosterone induces relaxation in RA. This response may occur in part via
ATP-sensitive K'+' channel opening action



Now, there is nothing new about the idea that testosterone activates potassium channels. So what does that mean? Testosterone regulates potassium.

Here's another, don't believe me, believe this;

http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jphs/103/3/103_309/_article


We report for the first time that supraphysiological concentrations of
testosterone induces relaxation in RA. This response may occur in part via
ATP-sensitive K+ channel opening action.




If potassium is regulated by testosterone, doesn't it then make sense that rising levels of potassium will increase testosterone levels?


I have to warn here about the dangers of potassium-loading. Testosterone regulates potassium for a reason; in excess, this stuff is extremely dangerous.

Here's a little proof. I saw better proof a few years ago, in a study where rat pups were rendered potassium deficient. They failed to produce potassium.


http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T03c




Amelia Sánchez-Capeloa,
Asunción Cremadesb,
Francisco Tejadab,
Teodomiro Fuentesb
and Rafael Peñafiel, a
aDepartments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of
Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
bDepartments of Pharmacology,
Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Received 2
August 1993;
revised 8 September 1993.
Available online 14
November 2001.

Abstract
Potassium deficiency produced different effects in the kidney of male or female mice. While in female, potassium deficiency caused a marked renal hypertrophy with no significant changes in testosterone-regulated enzymes, such as ornithine decarboxylase and β-glucuronidase, in the male the same treatment provoked a marked fall of these enzymes owing to a dramatic decrease in plasma testosterone. Potassium replenishment restored plasma testosterone and renal enzymatic activities. These results show for the first time, that potassium modulates circulating
testosterone and suggest that this cation could exert an important regulatory
role in controlling androgen actions


Again, potassium deficiency causing testosterone secretion to decrease in male animals. Female animals proper hormonal balance involves less testosterone secretion than males does; the lower potassium intake in this study was more within their homeostatic range, so that the effect on testosterone in the female mice was lessened.

Again, anybody reading this do not I repeat do not potassium-load. Include foods that are not potassium depleted (that is, non-refined foods) in your diet. If your testosterone levels are low, it seems to me that you may be potassium-deficient.

Salty, potassium, testosterone. Looks like we're down to bitter.

6 comments:

John said...

Don't K salts have a bitter taste? Are there specific numbers for optimal K and Na intake for testosterone?

donny said...

I may be overstressing the connection to taste, here. Sodium might be a better match, paired with sodium.

And of course, while testosterone might be the hormone which increases potassium retention most directly, there are interactions, none of which I yet understand, with various other elements.

Optimal levels of any nutrient should be decided by your natural appetite, the general idea is to eat in such a way that your tastebuds guide your nutrient intake.

But if a food makes you gorge, don't eat it; your system is confused somehow.

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Anonymous said...

Now, it does make sense. good explanation dude!

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