In a new study from the Hamad Medical Corporation, researchers found supplementing testosterone strongly reduces heart attacks and strokes in men with unnaturally low levels of the hormone.
The ten-year study involved over 800 men from Germany and Qatar with testosterone deficiency, whose family history, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, diabetes or weight put them at high risk of heart attack or stroke.
The participants have testosterone levels below normal, and they also had symptoms of low testosterone, such as low mood, decreased appetite, depression, erectile dysfunction, loss of libido or weight gain.
Just over half of the men opted for long-term testosterone replacement therapy, enabling the researchers to compare this group to those whose condition was left untreated.
All the men were encouraged to make lifestyle changes, in terms of diet, alcohol, smoking and exercise, to improve their heart health.
The team found in 412 men on testosterone therapy, 16 died and none suffered a heart attack or stroke. Of the 393 men who chose not to take testosterone supplements, 74 died, 70 had a heart attack and 59 suffered a stroke.
For the men under 55, the risk of heart attack and stroke was reduced by 25%; for men over 60, the risk was reduced by 15%.
The health of the men on testosterone therapy also improved by other measures.
They lost weight, had more lean muscle mass, their cholesterol level and liver function improved, their diabetes was better controlled and their blood pressure dropped.
The team says given that all these men would normally have been expected to suffer a heart attack or stroke in the next five to ten years, with no other intervention, it was a real surprise to see no cardiovascular events at all in the group on testosterone therapy.
It’s clear that this treatment can strongly reduce the risks in this particular group.
However, the team are keen to stress that testosterone therapy is not a silver bullet and should only be considered for patients who meet certain criteria.
Testosterone can be seriously harmful if taken by men with normal levels, or who function perfectly well with reduced levels of the hormone.
While men need testosterone for certain psychological and biological functions, only those with low levels who display other symptoms are likely to benefit from testosterone therapy.
For those at high risk of heart attack and stroke, who are deficient in testosterone, it’s likely that bringing the hormone back to normal levels helps them to maximize the benefits of other steps necessary to improve their overall health.
This includes increasing exercise levels, eating healthier food, giving up smoking and reducing alcohol consumption.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about a new early warning sign for heart disease and findings of heart disease can be found in the eyes.
For more information about heart disease, please see recent studies about this very common drug for heart disease may reduce COVID-19 risk and results showing a big cause of congenital heart disease.
The study was presented at the European Association of Urology congress. One author of the study is Professor Omar Aboumarzouk.
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