Gelding theory of low testosterone men.

Is low testosterone coming from your gut?

Being obese, is a major risk factor for low tesosterone in aging males.

Now we know a link.

It’s called the Gelding Theory. Gelding stands for:

“Gut Endotoxin Leading to a Decline IN Gonadal function”

The thinking is this:

1. High fat and high calorie diets increase intestinal permeability which therefore allows toxins from gram negative innate gut bacteria to enter circulation .(Endotoxin)

2. Endotoxin circulates and crosses the blood brain barrier and suppresses the pituitary production of Luteinizing hormone (LH). The release of LH Is a key step in tesosterone secretion in the gonads.

3. Endotoxin also permeates the walls of the testes creating oxidative stress in the testes thereby lowering sperm production.
   

I am currently reviewing an article that shows that this can happen right after a high fat meal.

Also it goes to show you intestinal permeability and leaky gut may have a direct role on hormone production.

Low tesosterone has the symptoms of depression, anxiety, lowered drive, low libido, infertility, and weight grain. And the Gelding Theory seems to explain the wide ranging presentation of a hypogonadal male.

Intestinal permeability is addressed with top down approaches and bottom-up approaches. Meaning we must heal the gut lining and also reduce what is aggravating it. Here is a bunch of things I have written on intestinal permeability.

Source:
Tremellen, Kelton. (2016). Gut Endotoxin Leading to a Decline IN Gonadal function (GELDING) - a novel theory for the development of late onset hypogonadism in obese men. Basic and Clinical Andrology. 26. 10.1186/s12610-016-0034-7.