Skip to main content

Diet-Induced Hypogonadism

Meaning

Diet-induced hypogonadism is a form of functional secondary hypogonadism where inadequate nutrient intake, extreme caloric restriction, or specific dietary choices lead to the suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal, or HPG, axis. This hormonal disruption results in a measurable decline in gonadal function, primarily characterized by reduced circulating levels of sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen. Clinically, this can manifest as decreased libido, impaired spermatogenesis in men, or menstrual dysfunction in women. This condition underscores the critical and direct link between nutritional status and the integrity of the endocrine system’s reproductive signaling.