Why being a ‘man’s man’ could add years to your life, according to new study

Men with low testosterone levels may suffer from more than just a lack of energy and a lack of libido.

Australian and European researchers found that men with sex hormone levels below normal limits were up to 10 percent more likely to die from any cause than men with levels below normal. within normal limits.

The hormone keeps muscles strong and reduces fat, which likely protects against diseases associated with obesity, as well as falls and injuries, researchers say.

Doctors have drawn attention to a “silent epidemic” affecting men with very low testosterone levels: male menopause, or “manopause.”

As with women, the term is used to describe the period in an adult man’s life during which his hormone levels plummet, causing a host of symptoms that shatter patients’ confidence or are downright debilitating, including erectile dysfunction, depression, anxiety and rapid fat gain.

Previous studies have shown conflicting and inconsistent results on the influence of sex hormones on aging men.

However, the latest review of 11 studies involving more than 24,000 men provides more clues.

A normal range for testosterone in men is 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL).

Researchers found that men with less than 213 ng/dL of testosterone had a higher risk of all-cause mortality, and men with less than 153 ng/dL had an increased risk of dying from heart disease.

The team added that very low concentrations of testosterone could also indicate that a person has another health problem – such as diabetes, HIV, autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy or excessive alcohol consumption – leading to thus at a higher risk of mortality.

The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, found that men with testosterone levels of 244 ng/dL or less were up to nine percent more likely to die from any cause. , compared to the men in the study with levels ranging from 340 to 706. .

For men with low T, they were up to 32% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than other men included in the study.

Testosterone is a male sex hormone produced in the testicles and is responsible for the development and maintenance of male sexual characteristics, such as the prostate, testicles and libido, as well as increasing muscle and bone mass and hair growth.

Lower than normal hormone levels can lead to low libido, low energy, depression, loss of muscle mass, erectile dysfunction, infertility, poor sleep and irritability.

There are many reasons why a man would have low T, including damage to the testicles or pituitary gland, obesity, genetic disorders, diabetes, or normal aging.

Testosterone therapy can partially reverse these symptoms and involves introducing supplemental testosterone into the body in several ways: skin patches, gels, tablets, or injections.

To naturally increase their testosterone, some men can exercise and lift more weights, increase their vitamin D intake, minimize their stress, get enough sleep, and limit their alcohol intake.

There is no exact figure on how many men suffer from hypogonadism, but various professional medical organizations estimate that it affects about two to five percent of American men.

It was previously thought that increasing testosterone levels might increase the risk of stroke or heart attack, but the overall role of testosterone in men’s health has been debated.

But a 2023 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine updated that belief.

Researchers in this study, testosterone replacement therapy was found in men with low T does not increase a person’s risk of dying from a heart attack.