Ginger and testosterone production in male animals
What it found
In male rats, ginger supplements raised testosterone, especially when the animals were under oxidative stress from diabetes or toxins.
No human studies were found.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Diabetic and hypertensive rats
Diabetic and hypertensive rat models given ginger or ginger extracts had higher blood testosterone than controls. But when ginger compounds like zingerone, geraniol and 6-gingerol were given alone, testosterone did not change in diabetic rats.
Toxin-exposed rats
In reproductive toxicity studies, chemicals, metals or drugs lowered testosterone in male rats, and ginger supplements counteracted that drop. Doses ranged from about 40 to about 600 mg daily, given for about 2 to 8 weeks.
How ginger might work
Ginger may raise testosterone by increasing luteinizing hormone, raising cholesterol in the testes, reducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, boosting antioxidant enzymes, normalizing blood glucose, improving blood flow to the testes, increasing testicular weight, and recycling testosterone receptors.
Blood sugar effects
In one study, 1.5 g of fresh ginger per 15 g of rat diet for 30 days significantly reduced blood glucose in diabetic rats. Another study found lower glycated hemoglobin in diabetic rats given 500 mg per kg of ginger extract daily.
Testicular weight
Male rats given ginger or ginger extracts for at least one week had higher testicular weight than controls, which is linked to higher testosterone production.
Manganese content
Ginger roots contain high amounts of manganese. In male rats, manganese supplementation stimulated luteinizing hormone secretion, which may boost testosterone.
What the authors conclude
“However, the effect of ginger or ginger extracts on testosterone is not yet confirmed in humans.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that the mainstream of research linking dietary ginger to testosterone has revealed that ginger or ginger extracts have an impact on testosterone as testosterone production was enhanced upon ginger supplementation.
- They state that the effect of ginger or ginger extracts on testosterone is not yet confirmed in humans.
- They advise that human studies in this context of research are of great importance.
How it was done
Testosterone is the main male sex hormone, and low levels are linked to infertility, diabetes, osteoporosis and bone loss. Scientists want to find ways to boost it.
The authors searched three databases for English articles from November 1991 to August 2018 using the keywords ginger and Zingiber officinale versus testosterone. They reviewed the relevant studies they found.
What it can’t tell you
- All the studies that found a direct link between ginger and testosterone were in live animals, mostly rats. They cannot show what happens in people.
- No human studies were done, so it is not known whether ginger affects testosterone in men.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The author declares no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan
The paper
- Title
- Ginger and Testosterone
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Banihani SA (2018). Ginger and Testosterone. Biomolecules. doi:10.3390/biom8040119Free full textPubMed 30360442DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error