The Damaging Role of Xenoestrogens in Men’s Health


Chris D. Meletis, ND

To be male in 2022 is not as easy as it used to be. All of humanity is living in a soup of xenoestrogens, toxic chemicals that interact with our hormone receptors and lead to dysregulation of the  HPA/HPG axis (Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal and Hypothalamic Pituitary Gonadal axis). These chemicals are linked to undesirable effects on male health, including infertility, cancer, and autism, which is more common in boys (1 in 34) compared to girls (1 in 145).1 Moreover, exposure to xenoestrogens is linked to Parkinson’s, a disease that is more prevalent in men than women.

Xenoestrogens are estrogen mimics. They degrade slowly in the environment, accumulate in the food chain, and have long half-lives in humans. As endocrine disrupters, xenoestrogens are toxic, leading to high levels of estrogen in men’s bodies and lower testosterone. In doing so, these chemicals disregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, potentially triggering reproductive disorders and other health problems. Xenoestrogen exposure over time in men has been implicated in the following:2-6

  • Reproductive effects
  • Prostate and other cancers
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Insulin resistance and diabetes
  • Fatigue
  • Low libido
  • Increased visceral fat
  • Testosterone deficiency
  • Weak bones

What Are Xenoestrogens?

“Xeno” in Greek means “foreign” to indicate that these chemicals are not produced naturally in the body. They mimic the activity of the hormone estrogen in both females and males, essentially tricking cellular receptors into believing they’re being exposed to an important endogenous hormone when in fact they’re being exposed to something not meant to come in contact with the human body.

Daily, men are exposed to a concerning number of xenoestrogens:

  • Dioxins – These chemicals are found in factory-processed foods. They impair normal sperm morphology and therefore may affect male fertility.7
  • Phthalates – Unless otherwise noted on packaging, phthalates are found in personal care products such as lotion, sunscreen, lipstick and other cosmetics, and shampoos. They’re also common in plastic containers, cups, cutlery, and grocery bags. When these containers are heated, exposed to direct sunlight, or scratched, phthalates can contaminate whatever is stored in them. In some human studies, Phthalates impaired fertility and reduced semen quality.7 By affecting the HPG axis, these chemicals have both estrogenic and antiandrogenic effects.8
  • Bisphenol A (BPA) – Exposure occurs from a variety of sources such as medical equipment, lining of aluminum cans, plastic bottles, dental sealants, and cash register receipts. This xenoestrogen is associated with reduced sperm concentration, lower motility, and abnormal sperm morphology.7 High levels of BPA also are associated with reduced sexual desire, increased erectile and ejaculatory problems, and increased severity of infertility.9 Exposure that begins before birth can damage the embryo in such a way as to cause feminization of male fetuses, atrophy of the testes and epididymides, and increased prostate size.9 Animal research shows that many of BPA’s negative effects are due to its ability to damage Leydig cells, the site of testosterone production in the testes.10  Although many cans and other products no longer contain BPA, some manufacturers have replaced it with a Bisphenol S (BPS), a chemical that is at least as estrogenic as BPA.11
  • Atrazine – A common herbicide used on corn, atrazine is ubiquitous in food and water supplies. It is harmful to reproductive function even at low doses.12 Atrazine has epigenetic effects, meaning it can lead to transgenerational inheritance of disease to subsequent generations from the person originally exposed.13 In animal research, atrazine reduces sperm quality.14
  • Organophosphate and organochloride pesticides – Used as an insecticide on food crops, these toxins are linked to reduced sperm motility, seminal volume, and increased sperm morphological abnormalities.7 Exposure to these pesticides is also linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.15
  • Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) – Males exposed to this class of chemicals while in the womb had a lower sperm concentration and total sperm count as adult men.16 Their reproductive hormones were also altered.
  • Parabens  – Found in personal care products and cosmetics, these xenoestrogens are associated with poor fertility treatment outcomes in couples.7 One study found an association between paternal urinary methylparaben concentrations and a decrease in live birth after intrauterine insemination.17 Parabens are also found in some foods where they’re used as antimicrobials to preserve foods and enhance shelf life.

Most of these chemicals can accumulate in fat tissue, which causes a constant release of these lipophilic compounds from fat cells (adipocytes).18 Under certain conditions such as weight loss or when adipocytes are dysfunctional, these toxins can be released from adipocytes at a rapid rate. This can lead to metabolic or endocrine disease or other adverse consequences.18

Xenoestrogens and Testosterone Deficiency

Many xenoestrogens exert some of their damaging effects by lowering testosterone levels.6 Testosterone deficiency is associated with the following:6

  • Low energy
  • Low libido
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Irritability
  • Joint pain and stiffness
  • Impaired memory
  • Depression

Epidemiological, theoretical, and therapeutic studies have also linked a number of diseases to low androgen levels in men. Conditions associated with testosterone deficiency include:

  • Cardiovascular disease19
  • Metabolic syndrome20
  • Diabetes21
  • Osteoporosis22
  • Frailty23
  • Alzheimer’s disease24
  • Reduced life expectancy25

Xenoestrogens and Estrogen Excess in Men

Xenoestrogens, also known as environmental estrogens, exert their effects through binding and activation of estrogen receptors similar to the way endogenous hormones activate receptors.26 Xenoestrogens can exert harmful effects even at relatively low estrogen concentrations.26

Men need a certain amount of estrogen to support bone mass5 and provide other benefits. Exposure to xenoestrogens can elevate men’s estrogen levels beyond the amount needed to support bone cells and heart health. Excess estrogen exposure can lead to:

  • Low libido and sex drive
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Low muscle mass and strength
  • Testosterone deficiency
  • A decline in blood zinc levels
  • Low endurance, fitness, and stamina
  • Moodiness, fatigue, and depression
  • Anxiety
  • Breast development in men
  • Increased belly fat

Reproductive Effects of Environmental Toxins

Over the last five decades, human sperm concentrations dropped by 51.6% and total sperm counts by 62.3%, according to a meta-analysis of 223 studies including a total of 57,000 men.27 There are many potential causes of this decline, including obesity, but environmental toxins are considered one of the most likely suspects. Even low levels of xenoestrogens can produce endocrine-disrupting effects.

Proof that environmental toxins are involved in reproductive harm includes a study which found that men who ate the most high pesticide-residue fruit and vegetables (1.5 servings/day or more) had a 49% lower total sperm count and a 32% lower percentage of normal sperm compared to men who at the least amount of pesticide-residue fruit and vegetables (less than 0.5 servings/day).28

In a US study of 501 infertile couples, researchers observed a significant association between infertility and blood lead levels in men.29 Air pollutants are another environmental toxin implicated in reduced fertility.30 One study determined that men living in an industrial town had significantly more reduced sperm motility and morphology and higher levels of sperm with abnormal chromatin compared to men living in a rural area with low levels of air pollution.31 Indoor air pollution also affects male reproductive health as shown in one study where flame retardants (PBDEs) found in house dust altered sex hormone levels and reduced male fertility.32

How Xenoestrogens Affect the Gut Microbiota

One of the most concerning aspects of environmental toxins is the relationship between gut microbiota dysbiosis and xenoestrogens. An increasing amount of evidence from animal studies shows that endocrine-disrupting chemicals can affect the gut microbiome.33  For example,  exposure to the anti-androgenic plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) leads to harmful effects on the gastrointestinal tract, including impairments in adaptive immunity. At the same time, exposure to this chemical increased the relative amounts of Fusobacteriia and Betaproteobacteria in the gut and these changes were linked to adverse effects in the intestines.34

In other studies, xenoestrogens altered the gut microbiome in various mammalian species. In mice exposed to BPA and the chemical ethinyl estradiol (EE2), their gut microbiomes underwent changes, including increased Bacteroides, Mollicutes, Prevotellaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Akkermansia, Methanobrevibacter, and Sutterella in either the parents or offspring.35 The relative abundance of these bacteria and archaea correlated with the host intestinal and metabolic diseases.

Other research using the same animal model indicated that exposure to the phytoestrogen genistein or BPA while mice were in the developmental stages resulted in distinct alterations in gut bacteria.36,37 These alterations correlated with neurobehavioral problems, suggesting that the microbiome may be instrumental in the neurobehavioral problems that occur after exposure to xenoestrogens.

Since then, research done using rabbits exposed to BPA showed relative reductions in Ruminococcaceae and Oscillospira spp. in the case of the rabbits directly exposed to BPA or Odoribacter spp. in BPA-exposed offspring.38 The alterations triggered inflammation in the animals. In dogs that ate increasing amounts of canned food containing BPA, researchers observed harmful gut bacteria alterations that were associated with blood chemistry changes in the animals.39 Another example is the effect of the endocrine-disrupting chemical octylphenol on Asiatic grass frog tadpoles.40 After exposure to this chemical, the tadpoles experienced changes in the intestinal microbiome that affected gene expression patterns related to fat digestion and absorption.

Taking a high-quality probiotic supplement may therefore help to support the gut microbiota and replenish supplies of beneficial bacteria.

Parkinson’s Disease and Xenoestrogens

Men are 1.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than women.41 Environmental toxin exposure is thought to be involved in the origins of Parkinson’s disease. Pesticides significantly inhibit mitochondrial Complex-I, triggering mitochondrial dysfunction and death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in the pathophysiology associated with Parkinson’s.3 A review of human epidemiologic studies found strong evidence that the environmental toxins rotenone and paraquat are associated with increased Parkinson’s disease risk and Parkinson’s-like neuropathology.15

Organochlorine pesticide exposure also is tied to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease in human and animal studies.15 More research needs to be done to  firmly establish how these toxins affect men differently than women and whether males are somehow more vulnerable to their effects or are exposed to them more frequently, thereby increasing the risk of Parkinson’s disease in men. 

Nicotinamide Riboside in Male Health

Boosting levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) with nicotinamide riboside addresses factors applicable to men’s health. In a double-blinded phase I clinical trial of 30 newly diagnosed Parkinson’s patients, oral intake of nicotinamide riboside led to increased brain NAD+ levels, improved cerebral metabolism, and mild clinical improvement.42 Nicotinamide riboside decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum and cerebrospinal fluid.

There’s also a relationship between NAD+ levels and male fertility in animal studies.  For example, triggering a decrease in NAD+ levels in young adult male mice, including in their testes, to levels seen in old mice leads to the disruption of spermatogenesis, small testes sizes, and lower sperm counts.43 In another study investigating the effects of nicotinamide on the testes of old rats, nicotinamide increased total antioxidant status (TAS), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone levels and reduced tissue damage in aged rat testicular tissue compared to the control group.44

The Importance of Detoxification

Due to the fact xenoestrogens are omnipresent in the environment, detoxification is a critical aspect of supporting male health. This can be achieved in a number of ways:

  • Having three bowel movements per day to make sure toxins are being excreted from the body during Phase 3 detoxification. 
  • Choosing a dietary supplement that supports all three phases of detoxification. Phase 1 produces oxidation and free radicals so it’s a good idea to supplement with antioxidants like vitamin C, CoQ10, selenium, and zinc. For Phase 2 support, amino acids like taurine, as well as vitamin B12, liposomal glutathione, and molybdenum are useful. Foods that contain sulfur like cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and onion can also support Phase 2 detoxification. Phase 3 detox, which involves a toxin being excreted from the body either through the kidneys, bladder, and urine or through bile and the stool. In addition to having plenty of bowel movements, drinking lots of fluids can help with toxins excreted through the kidneys.
  • Supplementing with silymarin, a component of milk thistle that is one of the best known detoxification botanicals. In cell culture and animal studies, it has been found to support healthy detoxification by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.45 Milk thistle is wellstudied in humans for its ability to support liver health, with many studies showing beneficial effects.46-49
  • Taking an N-acetyl L-Cysteine (NAC) supplement may also be helpful. NAC exerts protective effects against endotoxins in humans50 and can protect dopamine neurons in Parkinson’s patients.51 When used together with the conventional treatment in patients with acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning, NAC supplementation led to a reduced dose of the conventional treatment.52

Conclusion

Daily, men are exposed to an overwhelming number of environmental toxins known as xenoestrogens. Exposure to these toxins harms various aspects of male health, including fertility, bone health, and neurological health. Researchers have proposed that exposure to toxins may explain why men have a higher rate of Parkinson’s disease compared to women. The more we learn about toxins, the more we understand their destructive role in health, including promoting dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. While we can’t hide completely from toxin exposure, we can implement  a regimen that includes supplementation with nicotinamide riboside, probiotics, and detoxification substances such as liposomal glutathione, vitamin C, silymarin (milk thistle), and NAC.   


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Published July 29, 2023

About the Author

Chris D. Meletis, ND, is an educator, international author, and lecturer. His mission is “Changing America’s Health One Person at a Time.”   Dr. Meletis has authored 18 books and over 200 national scientific articles in journals, including Natural Health, Alternative and Complementary Therapies, Townsend Letter, Life Extension, NDNR,  Natural Pharmacy, and articles on PubMed.

Dr. Meletis served as Dean of Naturopathic Medicine and Chief Medical Officer for seven years for the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (now the National University of Natural Medicine). The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians awarded him the 2003 Physician of the Year. He has a deep passion for helping the underprivileged and spearheaded the creation of 16 free natural medicine healthcare clinics in the Portland metropolitan area of Oregon.