‘Ideal’ testosterone levels for better survival
Optimal levels of testosterone – meaning neither low nor high – in older men are associated with better survival, according to a study recently published by a team of University of Western Australia (UWA) researchers.
Testosterone is the principle male sex hormone which regulates sexual function and body composition in men.
Testosterone levels decline with age, which can lead to major health problems. But now, researchers led by Professor Bu Yeap, of UWA have shown that older men who have high levels of testosterone may be as vulnerable to health concerns including a higher risk of dying.
The researchers studied 3,690 men aged 70 to 89 years living in Western Australia as part of the Health In Men Study. Levels of testosterone and its metabolite dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were measured in blood samples collected between 2001 and 2004 and compared with survival up to December 2010.
Men with mid-range levels of testosterone had lower all-cause mortality than men with lower or higher values. Men with higher DHT levels had a lower risk of dying from ischaemic heart disease (IHD).
“Optimal circulating total testosterone is a robust biomarker for survival in ageing men. However, higher DHT levels are associated with reduced IHD mortality,” Professor Yeap said.
“Having the right amount of testosterone and DHT may be important for men's health as they grow older, but we need to conduct clinical trials to determine whether modifying levels of sex hormones would improve health outcomes in older men,” he said.
However, the researchers warned that clinicians should avoid giving high dosages of testosterone to older, frail men until further research had been undertaken.
