From the Research
Effects of OMAD on Serum Testosterone Levels
- The available evidence does not directly address the impact of consuming one meal per day (OMAD) on serum testosterone levels. However, studies on intermittent fasting and calorie restriction provide some insights:
- A review of human trials on intermittent fasting found that it decreased androgen markers, including testosterone, in premenopausal females with obesity and in lean, physically active, young males 1.
- A study on the effects of lifestyle modifications, including increased physical activity and calorie restriction, found that increased physical activity had a greater effect on increasing serum testosterone levels in overweight and obese men than calorie restriction 2.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that calorie restriction had different effects on testosterone concentrations in men depending on their body mass index, with significant increases in total testosterone concentrations in overweight or obese men and significant decreases in normal-weight, healthy men 3.
- Other studies found that glucose ingestion did not lower testosterone concentrations in men on testosterone therapy 4 and that postprandial changes in sex hormones after meals of different composition showed a significant decrease in testosterone after certain meals 5.
Key Findings
- Intermittent fasting and calorie restriction may have varying effects on serum testosterone levels in men, depending on factors such as body composition and physical activity level.
- Increased physical activity may have a greater effect on increasing serum testosterone levels than calorie restriction.
- The impact of OMAD on serum testosterone levels is not directly addressed in the available evidence, and more research is needed to fully understand its effects.