Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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i've attempted numerous experiments with taking fish oil / otherwise upping my omega 3 intake, and almost without fail i've noticed a (dose-dependent) flatlining of my libido (i'm male) as a result. i did some digging around on the interwebs and apparently a number of other men have noticed this same effect:

http://tnation.t-nation.com/free_online_forum/diet_performance_nutrition_supplements/fish_oil_and_the_male_libido?id=660612&pageNo=0

http://www.mindandmuscle.net/forum/24803-fish-oil-vs-libido

the flatlining is always temporary, and always lifts after a few days of discontinuing the fish oil. i suspect that eating a lot of fatty fish has the same effect for me, though that's hard a little harder to track since i don't eat it very often. i feel otherwise good on fish oil--in some ways better than usual--and i'm young and otherwise very fit / healthy / eat paleo.

this doesn't appear to be a common effect (it seems like most people, men included, notice an increased libido, if they notice any effect at all), but judging from what i've been able to dredge up it doesn't seem entirely UNcommon, either. so my question is: assuming this phenomenon is real, what POSSIBLE hormonal / endocrine mechanism could account for this effect?

flag	asked Oct 1 2011 at 2:27 unfavorableomens 21●1●2

Travis Culp · Answer 1 · 2011-10-01 05:01:59Z UTC

5

Here ya go.

Intakes of eicosapentanoic [EPA] and docosahexaenoic [DHA] acids, n-3 fatty acids from fish, were significantly inversely correlated with total testosterone.

Suggested mechanism:

High intake of n-3 fatty acids has been reported to reduce testosterone synthesis by altering the lipid composition of rat testicular plasma membranes.

This would be more of a long-term phenomenon that likely wouldn't resolve as rapidly as you describe, but it's nevertheless something to keep in mind.

edited Oct 1 2011 at 5:01

answered Oct 1 2011 at 4:54

Travis Culp♦
39.7k●1●32●132

whoah. this would make quite the splash on the bodybuilding boards (cw seems to be that n-3 is good for test). also does n-r mean either n-6 or n-3? i can't say i've ever noticed this effect with n-6--it seems specifically tied to n-3. – unfavorableomens Oct 1 2011 at 5:05

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oh, just read the last part of your post--i agree, definitely something to keep in mind. – unfavorableomens Oct 1 2011 at 5:10

Yeah, that was a typo that I corrected to n-3. Regarding fish oil, this may also interest you: paleohacks.com/questions/66467/… – Travis Culp♦ Oct 1 2011 at 5:16

I didn't know this, nice info. He should up Zinc to 50mg per day. It does boots libido. Piracetam/Hydergine/Choline combination does that too, pretty strong in my opinion and some friends of mine. – majkinetor Oct 1 2011 at 15:16

none · Answer 2 · 2011-10-01 04:36:09Z UTC

http://www.functionalps.com/blog/?p=2559

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200210/sex-what-problem

http://marjorie-mcatee.suite101.com/treat-depression-with-fish-oil-a209581

The above links say three things: First that high serotonin in the brain is known to have libido lowering effects. Second, this can be seen in people on SSRIs who complain about low libido - their brains are flooded with the stuff. Three, Omega 3s can elevate serotonin in the brain.

Serotonin is actually a stress hormone. Like cortisol it is released to deal with excess stress in acute bursts. When elevated for too long it can have adverse effects, perhaps even lowering libido.

Bread-Eating Beelzebub · Answer 3 · 2011-10-01 03:16:52Z UTC

That's interesting. The Orgasmic Diet is written by a women and suggests lots of fish oil. I've personally never experienced an effect on way or another. Perhaps it is interrupting your prostaglandin system similar to what aspirin does (aspirin and fish oil lower prostaglandins)? Prostaglandins are extremely complex and affected by so many things and so much individual variation, which probably accounts for the fact that some people would have libido issues and others wouldn't.

John J. Collins · Answer 4 · 2011-10-01 06:01:07Z UTC

I can not proffer a mechanism. But I am going to guess that you use concentrated fish oil. Everyone knows that there is variability in quality and effect among various brands of fish oil. But what many don't realize, in my opinion, is that there is a notable difference between concentrated and non-concentrated fish oil. In my wellness-based chiropractic practice for years, we used a highly-respected, so-called "pharmaceutical-grade" CONCENTRATED fish oil as part of a wellness-based nutritional protocol. While most patients had straight-forward, positive results (including BTW increased libido, a very common "collateral benefit"), every now and then (like 1 in 7) weird side-effects were reported. 5 years ago, we started using a high-quality, NON-concentrated version and there have been ZERO reports of weird side-effects, in hundreds of patients over 5 years. Additionally, very very few patients burp the non-concentrated fish oil. If you have been using a concentrated fish oil, you might try a high-quality non-concentrated fish oil. Lastly, if you can take the liquid, choose that over gel caps. There are still some sleazy manufacturers who put a form of pthalate in the gel cap. About 5 years ago , I read a label from a costco-bought fish oil that had pthlate disclosed on the label as a component in the gelcap (I believe they have discontinued this, but I don't bother keeping up with retail supplements anymore as I am convinced most are rubbish). Good luck.

sherpamelissa · Answer 5 · 2011-10-01 03:22:51Z UTC

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Fish oil makes me bitchy. I've tried several brands, taking it in the morning or in the evening. It's weird, but my body doesn't like it, at all.

answered Oct 1 2011 at 3:22

sherpamelissa
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my mood is generally better on it (in some ways), minus the libido thing. some people on those boards suggest it has a dose-dependent ssri/prozac-type effect, which might suggest one explanation for the libido effect. – unfavorableomens Oct 1 2011 at 3:38

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That is strange - it helps bipolar disorders a lot for instance. – majkinetor Oct 1 2011 at 15:20

@majikenetor, I react differently to a lot of medication. Things that make people sleep, keep me awake most of the time too. – sherpamelissa Oct 2 2011 at 2:10

i wish u love love and love.... hej every body. how are u going? this fishing lines are so new and complicated can so easy to catch fish too easy. but also hard. killed the fish with the hand still love my fish skinn him. still love u all and my fish. love u all girls and girls hope u throw some herbs for me in the wind. for heling healing healing and love – none Oct 9 2011 at 2:36

WayfinderAli · Answer 6 · 2011-10-01 15:12:43Z UTC

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Is it possible for some guys to not be impacted by fish oil? My boyfriend takes TONS of fish oil. He starting taking lots of it this summer, and continues to take it now. He works out 5-6 days a week- HIIT and weight lifting, and there is no change in his very high libido. He's 27 and eats high fat low carb paleo.

answered Oct 1 2011 at 15:12

WayfinderAli
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	from what i've seen most people aren't affected either way--my reaction seems to be something of an outlier. – unfavorableomens Oct 1 2011 at 16:47
	do you get insomnia from it too? I can't take it because it keeps me from being able to sleep – WayfinderAli Oct 1 2011 at 19:03
	i actually have noticed that before, yes. when i've taken it i've made sure to take it in the morning for that reason. – unfavorableomens Oct 1 2011 at 19:04

Anil · Answer 7 · 2012-04-13 06:26:23Z UTC

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Actually my observation is that good quality omega 3 fatty acids in does of 1 Gm per day elevates libido.

answered Apr 13 2012 at 6:26

Anil
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anon · Answer 8 · 2012-09-14 19:13:37Z UTC

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You might try omega-6 instead. Possible clues:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16600514

answered Sep 14 at 19:13

anon
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Ryan · Answer 9 · 2013-05-14 03:33:38Z UTC

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some people can eat like crap and have 800 t, T can be affected by social interactions as well as diet. But i've had higher t with eating more saturated fats as well as eating fish, I try to keep things even keel.

answered May 14 at 3:33

Ryan
91●3

Fish oil lowers libido - suggested mechanisms?

9 Answers