Lower Testosterone Levels May Lead To Higher Mortality Rates
By Kevin DiDonato MS, CSCS, CES
Everyone knows that when we age, certain systems in our bodies start to function at less than 100 percent. Women typically experience this phenomenon during menopause, when Estrogen levels start to fall below normal levels.
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This same phenomenon can hold true for men. Testosterone is a steroid hormone made from the testes, which aids in the development of male reproductive tissue, and aids in prostate health. Other areas that testosterone helps develop are secondary characteristics, including increased muscle size and mass, bone mass, and the growth of body hair.
As we age, our levels start to decline, similar to that of women, but not as fast. Research in the decline of testosterone levels and men’s health is starting to be researched more with some astonishing results. |
 Testosterone Molecule
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One area of research that is gaining press is declining levels of testosterone, and death from cardiovascular disease. Research from Khaw et al, reported that men with higher levels of endogenous testosterone levels exhibited more favorable cardiovascular disease profile. These men showed higher HDL cholesterol levels and showed lower triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, blood glucose, blood pressure, and a lower BMI.
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The research done by Khaw et al. also showed that there was an inverse relationship with testosterone levels and mortality. Their research followed 11,606 men from 1993-1997, with a follow up in 2003. They found that 825 men had died and that 369 of those deaths came from cardiovascular disease, while the remaining 304 deaths came from Cancer.
The inverse relationship between low levels of testosterone and higher incidence of death was high. They also found that men with Another study by Laughlin et al. showed that 30% of men, 60 years or older, were estimated to have low testosterone levels. Men that exhibited these low testosterone levels suffered from low bone and muscle mass, increased fat mass (abdominal fat), low energy, and impaired physical, cognitive and sexual function. |
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Laughlin et al, also showed that men with lower testosterone levels had an increased risk of falls, hip fractures, anemia, type 2 Diabetes, depressive illness, and in some studies, Alzheimer’s disease.
Having low levels of testosterone has been shown to possibly increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Having higher levels of testosterone not only can be protective to the heart, but also can prevent increases in BMI, hip fractures, and positive moods in men!
NEXT: An Easy Way To Improve Low Testosterone Levels >>
Bottom Line:
Testosterone is not the “Bad Guy” that the media has sometime made it out to be. Having high testosterone levels is critical for maintaining good health AND building a lean muscular physique!
32 Comments
Jay Edwards
Hey Lee,
Nice article again man informative as always, its funny really i’ve just recently started on a Test booster that increases natural levels by 400% it seems to working very well for me but then i’ve only been using it for a week, but i am honestly already seeing results in my strength stamina and duration, my lifting power has increased and my fatigue level after training seems less abundant, now i know these things in this article i’m even more encouraged to take it, Nice one chief
Farley
From what I am led to understand is that high levels of testosterone coincide with baldness.
DPM
Really?
I always assumed both high and low levels were associated with a 100% ‘risk of death.’
lol
This is what’s wrong with lifting.
you dont know
you don’t know what your talking about. weight lift has nothing but good benefits. along with a good nutritional diet, exercising and weight lift has been shown every time to not only to increase physique but also reduce risk of pretty much every disease, increase general health, increase sexual function, significantly reduce the effects of aging, and increase mood and attitude.
Personal Trainer Mumbai
“30% of men, 60 years or older, were estimated to have low testosterone levels.”
How can 60 years or older can increase T level with exercise, if they have joint pains and cant lift heavy weights?
Do they do more repetitions with lower weights or more exercises with body weight?
Michael
Hello Lee,
Another informative article, a question for you sir if as you have stated increased testosrerone levels can prevent certain ailments/conditions and can even stave-off death (which is always good), then is it not possible to get booster shots of “T” from your GP/MD as a preventative measure? Also wouldn’t pharmaceutical grade testosterone be more potent/beneficial than what you would get from say a supplement?
Thanks for your time.
Paul Seville
Hi Lee
I am 62 years old & your article is bang on in 2006 i had to have bypass surgery & my energy levels & everything else landed in the gutter. That is when i started going to the gym (never to late) I have tried a range of supplements some are great some not so, I havent had much luck test boosters they seem to make me a little short temperd, so i will give pro grade a go & let you know.Paul
clay
What product are you taking that claims to increase T 400%?
leehayward
No, that’s not true. Baldness is a genetic thing.
But look at it this way. Your testosterone levels are at their highest when you are a teenager. How many teenagers do you know that go bald? Not many.
Yet most men who do go bald tend to lose their hair as they age. And guess what happens when you age? Your testosterone levels go down.
Bottom line, your testosterone levels do not impact whether or not you’ll lose your hair.
leehayward
LOL we’re all going to go at some point, but let’s do the best we can to maximize the time we have.
leehayward
Any form of weight training can help improve hormone production. You don’t have to be a competitive powerlifter or bodybuilder to reap the benefits of weight training. And besides, regular exercise will help a lot more with joint pain than doing no exercise at all.
In addition to exercises there are natural supplements that can help increase natural testosterone levels. Just check out http://leehayward.getprograde.com/K20.html for more info.
leehayward
Yes, you are right. Hormone replacement therapy is becoming more and more common. In fact for men in their 50’s and older I would recommend that they get their hormone levels checked by their family doctor or a hormone replacement specialist.
nitin
hii lee i want to know that whether zinc also helps with testosterone ?
i take 30 mg zinc before sleep , also tribulus works or not?
however i am 23 years old , so what do u think ? it will be too early to use test booster ?
leehayward
There’s nothing wrong with taking Zinc or ZMA (i.e. zinc and magnesium) supplements. These help provide nutritional support for testosterone production along with several other vital functions within the body.
But taking test-boosters like tribulus and other such products may not be needed, especially at your age. While your hormone levels are not quite as high at 23 as they were in your late teens. They are not low enough to require supplementation… That’s my 2 cents worth… 😉
Sam
Michael,
It’s good to see that it’s beneficial to have high T levels in our bodies. This is best achieved through abstinence from sex, and of course coupled with weight training.
Sam
It’s good to see that it’s beneficial to have high T levels in our bodies. This is best achieved through abstinence from sex, and of course coupled with weight training.
Dr.K.Hall, medical scientist
Here in Australia, you will qualify for subsidized scripts for testosterone inj if a blood test demonstrates anterior pituitary deficiency. (Sustanon 250 inj = mixed esters of testosterone, ususally given every 10 days)
Alternatively, a private script for three ampoules will cost around $32, a 30 day supply.
eric
if increasing your test level is good then what about steroids(testosterone) should i be taking them at a low level????????????
Farley
– content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board:
“The Cause of Male Pattern Baldness
Most men are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. It is the effect of hormones on the hair follicle that produces male pattern baldness. Testosterone, a hormone that is present in high levels in males after puberty, is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT has an adverse affect on the hair follicles. Acting on a hormone receptor on the hair follicle it slows down hair production and produces weak, shorter hair, sometimes it stops hair growth from the follicle completely. This process gradually depletes your stock of hair and is normal hair loss.”
http://menshealth.about.com/cs/hairhairloss/a/baldness.htm
I’ve heard, also, that Male Pattern Baldness is genetic on our mother’s side. Maybe both are genetic. My Mother’s (76) father’s family lived well into their late 80’s and to 101. You’ve probably guessed by now that I am balding, (since my early 20’s) and my grandfather had MPB.
leehayward
If they are prescribed by a doctor or hormone replacement specialist than this is an option as well. I actually know a few guys in their 50’s and 60’s are taking hormone replacement therapy and it is working really well for them.
eric
leehayward,
i am 52. i can get the test at the gym. it does work and is clean. how much should i take a week,500mg or 1000 ?
leehayward
Taking natural herbal supplements is one thing, but taking actual synthetic drugs is something totally different.
I’d never recommend anyone self administer any drug without the advice of a doctor. The best thing to do is visit your family doctor (or hormone replacement specialist) and get your hormone levels checked. Then they can advise you on the best approach to take from there.
Michael
Hello Lee,
Some ?’s for you about K20 sir, does this product supplement existing testosterone levels or supplant them? if it’s just a booster how long do the effects last and will any gains disappear if you stop using the product?
If it is supplanting the bodies natural formation of “T” then is there not a danger of it having serious health implications. Also isn’t excess “T” flushed out by the bodies renal system and am I right in thinking that too much blood testosterone is transformed by the body into the female hormone estrogen as a by-product to balance things out (which I’m guessing most fellas would want to avoid like the plague).
Thanks for your time.
leehayward
Supplements like K20 help support the body’s natural testosterone production so that you optimize your natural levels. This doesn’t have the negative side effects of taking synthetic artificial hormones and you won’t spike your hormones so high that they aromatase into estrogen.
Sunny James
I never knew this
vic magary
I’ll have to check into this more
Michael
Hello Lee,
Another ? for you sir you mention ZMA as part of your reponse to a query by Nitin, how does K20 compare to ZMA in terms of efficacy.
Thanks for you time.
eric bonger
where would i get this k20 or zma
Michael
eric bonger,
Eric K20 is manufactured and sold by a supplement company called Prograde, you can find out more about this product by clicking the link in red at the end of the main article. the link is entitled “An easy way to improve your Testosterone levels”. ZMA which is a supplement containing the minerals Zinc and Magnesium is readily available from most health food/supplement stores and probably large pharmacies, although I suspect if you were to go to a pharmacy you might have to buy the Zinc and Magnesium seperately.
Hope this is useful.
Shiraz khan
Hi Lee
I wanna ask u that i m 15years old i am fat i wanna be lean and muscular and so want to increase my testosterone level so do you think i should icrease my testosterone level or not
either way i m still gonna try
By the way u r awesome dude nice body and a great website i found lot of information here and
follow ur exercises nice
a quick reply would be appreciated
THANKS
Michael
Greetings Lee & All,
Hope everyone’s xmas festivites went well & that not too many toys were thrown out of figurative prams in fits of pique (“for tis the season to be jolly”) or so I’m told, but I digress. Lee especially at this time when food is consumed with abandon, are there any foods or combination of foods that can have a positive (natural) influence on male testosterone levels. Also without being tested by your GP/MD are there any tell-tale signs for low “T” levels. I’m in my late 40s what is a normal “T” level for my age group?.
Thanks for your time & I hope that for you & your subscribers/clients that 2012 is a year in which all possibilities are realised.;-)