Low sex hormone level may spell shorter life in older men

Low levels of the sex hormone testosterone may increase the long-term risk of death in men over age 50 by as much as one-third, even if they are relatively healthy, according to a new research report.

“The new study is only the second report linking deficiency of this sex hormone with increased death from all causes, over time, and the first to do so in relatively healthy men who are living in the community,” said Gail Laughlin, Ph.D., assistant professor and study author from the University of California, San Diego, (UCSD) School of Medicine, who conducted the research.

In the study, Ms Laughlin and co-workers looked at deaths of nearly 800 men, ages 50 to 91, who were living in Rancho Bernardo, California. The participants had been members of the Rancho Bernardo Heart and Chronic Disease Study since the 1970s.

At the beginning of the 1980s, almost one-third of these men had suboptimal blood testosterone levels for men their age.

The group with low testosterone levels had a 33% greater risk of death during the next 18 years than the men with higher testosterone. This difference was not explained by smoking, drinking, physical activity level or pre-existing diseases (such as diabetes or heart disease).

“The study did show there may be an association between low testosterone levels and higher mortality. It did not show that higher levels of testosterone are associated with decreased mortality,” explained Laughlin.

Researchers agree only randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials can determine whether testosterone supplements can safely promote longer life. Such a trial is in the planning stages at UCSD.