How is the supportive effect of Mucuna pruriens on male fertility hypothesized to occur regarding the hormone prolactin?
The dopamine precursor (L-DOPA) helps regulate and suppress high prolactin levels.
The positive impact of Mucuna pruriens on male reproductive health is strongly linked to its high L-DOPA content, which functions as a dopamine precursor. High levels of the hormone prolactin are known to have a detrimental effect on both testosterone production and overall sperm quality. Because dopamine plays a role in regulating various hormones, the L-DOPA present in the bean acts to suppress or regulate these elevated prolactin levels, thereby creating a more favorable hormonal environment for reproductive function. This hormonal regulation is combined with the bean's antioxidant properties, which help protect sperm cells from oxidative stress damage, providing a dual mechanism of support.
