Oat straw, also known as avena sativa, is a common herb used as a folk remedy for various health conditions. Some proponents claim that oat straw can help boost testosterone levels in men, but the evidence for this is limited.
There was one (./pubmed/16010928) published in 2011 that looked specifically at the effects of oat straw extract on testosterone levels. This study found that men aged 40-70 who took 800mg per day of oat straw extract for 12 weeks showed an increase in blood testosterone levels compared to men in the placebo group.
However, there are some important caveats to this study:
- It had a very small sample size of only 20 men total. Studies with more participants are needed to confirm the results.
- The men's testosterone levels were not very low at baseline, so it's unclear if oat straw would help men with below normal testosterone.
- 12 weeks is a relatively short study period for evaluating effects on hormones. Longer term studies would be useful.
There's also the question of
why oat straw might increase testosterone:
- Oat straw contains steroidal saponins, which are claimed to help the body produce more luteinizing hormone. Higher luteinizing hormone prompts the testes to produce more testosterone. However, this mechanism needs to be confirmed in additional research.
- Oat straw may also improve blood flow due to its antioxidant effects. Better circulation could benefit testosterone levels by bringing more oxygen and nutrients to tissues involved in hormone production. But again, more studies on oats straw’s effects on blood flow are needed.
In summary, while that one small study showed a testosterone boosting effect of oat straw extract in men, much more research is needed before conclusions can be made.
Some key points about the current evidence:
- There has only been one human trial specifically on oat straw and testosterone, which limits the strength of evidence for this effect.
- The mechanisms by which oat straw may increase testosterone remain unclear and hypothetical.
- We cannot conclude from existing research if oat straw benefits men with abnormally low testosterone or not.
- Long term human trials with larger sample sizes are needed to verify initial findings on oat straw and testosterone.
So in conclusion, while oat straw shows some early promise for potentially increasing testosterone, more research is still needed before this effect can be considered conclusively demonstrated. Speak to your doctor before taking oat straw supplements to ensure safety and efficacy for your individual health needs.
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Vitality Hormone Center specializes in evidence-based hormone optimization programs for both men and women. We provide comprehensive lab testing, personalized treatment plans, and ongoing monitoring to help patients achieve optimal hormonal balance for health and performance.)
