Eat meat? Here's how it may affect your testosterone levels

A new Finnish study of 2,500 men aged 42–60 challenges the myth that eating meat raises testosterone: high consumption of animal protein was found to be linked to lower levels of the hormone, while plant protein was associated with higher levels of free testosterone.

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland, involving more than 2,500 men aged 42 to 60, challenges the widespread myth that eating meat raises testosterone levels. The researchers found that high consumption of animal protein (meat and poultry) relative to plant protein was associated with lower total testosterone levels in the blood. In contrast, higher consumption of plant protein from non-grain sources—such as vegetables, legumes, and nuts—was linked to higher levels of 'free testosterone,' the hormone immediately available to the body. However, the researchers emphasize that the differences found were relatively small, and that this is an observational study that does not prove cause and effect. In a statistical model replacing animal protein with plant protein, no significant change in hormone levels was found. The conclusion is not that one should stop eating meat, but that the relationship between diet and testosterone is more complex than commonly thought, and that claims on social media about a 'carnivore' diet are not supported by unequivocal findings.