Testosterone Use in Older Men

A new study done showed that older men with low to low-normal testosterone who used testosterone gel daily for a three years period registered a slower advancement of subclinical atherosclerosis compared with peers who were placed on placebo gel. The same with testosterone therapy men also did not show any essential sexual function or even health-related lifestyle.

The study was done by Dr. Shehad Basair of Brigham and Women's Hospital and the finding we compiled from testosterone's causing Atherosclerosis Progression in Aging Men with a trial in 308 men aged 60+. The study was done in collaboration with other Dr. Shehad colleagues from Harvard Medical School. Boston, Massachusetts, and was published on August 11 by the colleagues, is reported in the August Journal of the American Medical Association.

The resulting study doesn't mean that testosterone has no effect on cardiovascular events say myocardial infarction or even stroke. Its means that if/it has triggered issues with cardiovascular event rate then it's not the atherosclerosis progression as explained by Dr. Shalender Bhasin, a senior author from Brigham and Woman's Hospital and Harvard Medical School to Medscape Medical News.

Male's normal testosterone is typically defined between 300 to 1000ng/dl levels. The study's low testosterone level was 100 to < 300ng/dl and the low-normal testosterone were 300 to 400ng/dL. The many men who are under testosterone therapy have normal to slightly low testosterone, where the study showed that the men do not benefit, explained by Dr. Shalender Bhasin.

The population further differs with men overt androgen deficiency, with testosterone can improve sexual function. Dr. Bhasin explains the facts as a lead author of the Endocrine Society guidelines on the topic. The study revealed that testosterone should not be used indiscriminately, he later noted.

Dr. Adrian Sandra Dobs of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore, Maryland, commented on that same and happened to agree with the result. The older men with low to low-normal testosterone, it was exciting on how there was a lack of improvement in the overall sense of health function. Dr. Adrian insisted on the question of the benefits?

However, there was no sign of worsening atherosclerosis. The study lacked to check on cardiovascular measures rates. Hence, there might have been a problem causing blood clots where the issue with atherosclerosis. Dr. Dobs summarized the overall; seems to suggest that any testosterone therapy is safe regarding atherosclerosis.

Spiraling sales of Testosterone, but Is It warranted or Safe?

Dr. Basaria and colleagues wrote on how older men are in the rise of buying testosterone in the sales increasing substantially over the past couple of years. There huge benefits and risks of long-term testosterone use to older men with age-related decline in testosterone levels remaining poorly comprehended.

The study aimed to investigate how older men with low or low-normal testosterone levels with raising testosterones to the mid-normal range young men with levels 500-900ng/dL and how it would affect the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis. Between 2004 and 2009 for the study enrolled 308 healthy men aged 60+ with low or low-normal living in the community at three US sites- LA Boston, and Phoenix.

The study subjects received a random 7.5g of 1% testosterone gel while other received placebo gels daily for three years. An interval of two weeks after the randomization, the total testosterone was measured 2 to 12 hours after a gel as applied and where the concentration level was less than 500ng/dL, the dose was increased to 10g+ each day. Men whose concentration was above 900ng/dL the dose were reduced 5g each day. The placebo as too adjusted to maintain blinding.

The two co-primary outcomes; the rate of change in distal right common carotid artery intima-media thickness that was measured every 6 months for three years and the change in coronary artery calcium that was measured 18 and 36 months of the study.

The secondary outcome is composed of self-reported sexual function that as based on the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire as well as the health-related quality of life that was based on the SF-36 questionnaire.

Note that the two groups had similar baseline characteristics. Both had mean age 67 and mean body mass index of 28.1. The result was- 42% had hypertension, 15% had cardiovascular disease, 15% had diabetes, 27% were obese, and 43% were receiving a statin.

The rate of change in carotid artery intima-media thickens has no significant difference with the group that received the placebo group and the testosterone-treated group with 0.010 mm/year vs. 0.012 mm/year, respectively. The mean difference that helped adjusted age and rail site registered a 0.0002 mm/year (P .89).

Coronary artery calcium score in the placebo group compared with the testosterone group was 41.4 Agatston units/year vs.31.4 Agatston units/year, respectively. The mean difference adjusted was 10.8 Agatston units/year (P .54). Thus, change in atherosclerosis progression measure was not linked in any way with the testosterones levels among men who received testosterone.

No significantly between group differences in sexual desire, overall sexual function score, erectile function, partner intimacy, and health-related quality of life over the study period. Dr. Dobs noted, that in older men there so many factors that significantly affect sexual function say diabetics, poor vascular flow. Hence, testosterone may have little influence maybe in younger men it would show significant differences.

The US Food and Drug Administration issued some warning advisory of possible risks of cardiovascular events in men using testosterone supplement. However, the advisory board noted that the evidence for this is incomplete hence inconclusive. Dr. Bhasin explained. The board later pointed out a larger randomized trial to check on testosterone effects on major cardiovascular events are much needed to clarify the issue.