Since I've started taking zinc supplements gains are coming faster than I ever expected. I think I might have been zinc deficient.
This Journal of Nutrition article really shows the importance of zinc, and it's role in production of testosterone and DHT. If you don't read it all, at least scroll down and have a look at the charts and graphs.
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/126/4/842.full.pdf
"...It has been reported that the receptor proteins have a zinc binding component with a high affinity for testosterone and dihydrotestosterone,
This Journal of Nutrition article really shows the importance of zinc, and it's role in production of testosterone and DHT. If you don't read it all, at least scroll down and have a look at the charts and graphs.
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/126/4/842.full.pdf
"...It has been reported that the receptor proteins have a zinc binding component with a high affinity for testosterone and dihydrotestosterone,
and that androgen receptor sites are significantly decreased in the reproductive organs of zinc-deficient rats...
...The effect of zinc deficiency on hepatic aromatization of testosterone to estradiol and 5a-reduction of testosterone to DHT has been studied and the results are given in Figure 2. When H-testosterone was incubated with liver from control and zinc-deficient rats, formation of DHT from testosterone was significantly lower in zinc-deficient rats compared with both control groups, whereas conversion of DHT to 3a-diol was lower in zinc-deficient rats than in both control groups. The livers of zinc-deficient rats exhibited a higher aromatization of testosterone to estradiol than did those of both groups of controls. No difference in androgen metabolism and aromatization was observed between freely fed and pair-fed control animals..."
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