Testosterone plays an important role in male reproductive development, muscle and bone mass, and athletic development. New research in Biological Trace Elements Research, assessed 4 weeks of magnesium supplementation and exercise, to increase levels of free and total plasma testosterone levels.
Researchers studied 3 groups; athletes practicing tae kwon do, a sedentary group, and a control group. The two test groups were administered 10 mg of magnesium per kilogram of body weight. Testosterone levels were measured at 4 different periods in all groups: resting before supplementation with magnesium, exhaustion before supplementation with magnesium, resting after supplementation with magnesium, and exhaustion after supplementation. Researchers found that free plasma testosterone levels significantly increased after magnesium supplementation at exhaustion before and after supplementation as compared to resting levels.
Research results indicated that supplementation with magnesium significantly increased free and total testosterone levels in both groups studied. However, researchers noted that the testosterone increases were significantly higher in the athletic group than in the sedentary group.
