The Testosterone Agenda in New U.S. Dietary Guidelines
Should it be a surprise to learn that a testosterone agenda is part of the scientific foundation for the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans? You can find it in “The Scientific Foundation for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.” HHS released that document alongside the guideline document itself. Stat News reports:
“For the first time, the guidelines, specifically an appendix on their ‘scientific foundations,’ include diet advice tailored to men concerned about maintaining healthy levels of testosterone. But leading testosterone experts said the evidence that diet alone can help men avoid low-T is scant.”
It seems that our secretary of health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has a fascination with testosterone. He takes it as part of his anti-aging protocol. So, no, we are not surprised to learn that his focus on testosterone might have found its way into the thinking about the dietary guidelines.
After all, this is very much a document that springs from personal convictions of the secretary.
Strong Belief and Thin Science
In praising his leader, RFK makes it clear that a high testosterone level impresses him. Reflecting on President Trump’s diet and health, he recently told an interviewer that Mehmet Oz reviewed the president’s testosterone levels and said:
“He’s got the highest testosterone levels that he’s ever seen for an individual over 70 years old.
“I know the president will be happy that I repeat that.”
Regardless of the secretary’s convictions about the importance of testosterone and the value of diet to raise its levels, the science to support his beliefs is a little thin. One of the pre-eminent experts on testosterone and health, Abraham Morgentaler, says: “A key point is that there is no single magic substance that can be eaten that will increase T to an appreciable degree.”
Muddled Advice
In fact, as the foundations document notes, excessive protein intake can actually suppress testosterone levels. And yet, the RFK guidance boldly says to “prioritize protein foods at every meal.”
We’ve said it before. These guidelines are muddled. Because of the muddle, we have real doubts they will do anything to enhance the health of Americans.
Click here for the reporting from Stat News and here for the foundations document. For more on the ups and downs of medical thinking about testosterone, click here.
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January 15, 2026
January 15, 2026 at 7:43 am, Mary Hastings Hager said:
An unspoken issue related to the new guidelines is whether the majority of Americans have the financial resources and access to stores to purchase the recommended foods? We’ve seen first hand inflationary costs for red meat, eggs, dairy and produce.