BTP/CORE New England
Men’s Health Centers
920 Washington Street
Norwood, MA 02062
www.BostonTestosterone.com
781.269.5953
Studies over and over show that low hormones are deleterious to ones health. When levels are off, one strives to correct the same. If cholesterol levels are high, you lower. If thyroid levels are high or low, you correct them. And, likewise, if hormones levels are off, you balance and optimize them.
This study shows that men aged 20–79 who have low testosterone levels below 8.7 nmol/L (250 ng/dL) have a more than two-fold increased risk of mortality from all causes, compared with those with higher serum testosterone levels. This risk is independent of age, waist circumference, smoking habits, high-risk alcohol use, and physical activity.
Background
The association of low serum testosterone levels with mortality has gained strength in recent research. However, there are few population-based studies on this association.
Objective
This study examined whether low serum testosterone levels are a risk factor for all-cause or cause-specific mortality in a population-based sample of men aged 20–79.
Methods
We used data from 1954 men recruited for the prospective population-based Study of Health in Pomerania, with measured serum testosterone levels at baseline and 195 deaths during an average 7.2-year follow-up.
A total serum testosterone level of less than 8.7 nmol/L (250 ng/dL) was classified as low.
The relationships of low serum testosterone levels with all-cause and cause-specific mortality were analysed by Cox proportional hazards regression models.
Results
Men with low serum testosterone levels had a significantly higher mortality from all causes than men with higher serum testosterone levels (HR 2.24; 95% CI 1.41–3.57).
After adjusting for waist circumference, smoking habits, high-risk alcohol use, physical activity, renal insufficiency, and levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), low serum testosterone levels continued to be associated with increased mortality (HR 2.32; 95% CI 1.38–3.89).
In cause-specific analyses, low serum testosterone levels predicted increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) (HR 2.56; 95% CI 1.15–6.52) and cancer (HR 3.46; 95% CI 1.68–6.68), but not from respiratory diseases or other causes.
Conclusion
Low serum testosterone levels were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality independent of numerous risk factors. As serum testosterone levels are inversely related to mortality due to CVD and cancer, it may be used as a predictive marker to improve the ability to predict health risks.
Reference:
Low serum testosterone levels are associated with increased risk of mortality in a population-based cohort of men aged 20-79.
Haring R, Völzke H, Steveling A, Krebs A, Felix SB, Schöfl C, Dörr M, Nauck M, Wallaschofski H.
Eur Heart J. 2010 Jun;31(12):1494-501
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20164245
Boston Testosterone Partners
BTP/CORE New England
Men’s Health Centers
920 Washington Street
Norwood, MA 02062
www.BostonTestosterone.com
781.269.5953