Restoring Low Testosterone Back To Normal Benefits Some Older Men, Suggests Study

The researchers found that the rates of subclinical atherosclerosis progression, as measured by changes in common carotid artery intima-media thickness or coronary artery calcium, did not differ significantly between men assigned to the testosterone or placebo groups.

This study was published online August 11 in JAMA. As of now, there are no real results from a clinical trial in the medical community that may provide a clear guidance. Some earlier studies had suggested that testosterone therapy could put men at higher risk for cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke. With the new study, there are now contradicting views on the matter.

“It is the first study to demonstrate that significant benefit is observed only if the dose is adequate to normalize the total testosterone levels“, said Dr. Rajat Barua, a cardiologist at Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in a press release. “Sufferers who failed to realize the therapeutic vary after testosterone alternative remedy didn’t see a discount in [heart attack] or stroke and had considerably much less profit on mortality”.

The findings of this recent study were contradictory to the FDA’s warnings, because they revealed that there were significant advantages that came from testosterone replacement therapy for men displaying low testosterone levels.

Researchers put the men into one of three groups according to if they received a prescription of TRT. All the men were segregated into three groups. The researchers took into account a wide array of factors that might affect cardiovascular and overall risk.

Scientists kept an eye on these patients for approximately 5-6 years after treatment.

To assess the safety and effectiveness of testosterone treatment, Bhasin and his colleagues enrolled 308 men older than 60 with testosterone levels in the low or low-normal range, or about what you’d expect in normally aging males. During the follow-up period, the treated men were 56 % less like to die, 24 % less like to have a heart attack and 36 % less likely to suffer a stroke than those who were untreated. Hematocrit (a measure of red blood cells) and prostate-specific antigen levels increased more in testosterone group.

Similar differences emerged between the second and third groups but were less pronounced.

The researchers state that the mechanisms behind these effects remain speculative and more research is needed.

And this new research actually goes contrary to what many earlier studies suggest; mainly that hormone replacement therapy in men is not necessarily effective.

The investigators noted that off-label use of TRT remains a concern.

As the authors explained, testosterone is a hormone secreted primarily by the testicles that plays an essential role in male reproductive tissue, as well as muscle growth, body mass, and body hair.