Low Testosterone Linked To Metabolic Syndrome In Men
Testosterone. Lately, this hormone has been demonized in the press with fictional accounts of “roid rage” and doping in professional athletics. It’s use is synonymous with the designation of being a steroid abuser or an unethical cheater. However, there is a growing movement in the medical community which has clearly demonstrated the need and understands the reasoning for keeping male testosterone levels optimal.
To gain a better understanding of how low levels of male hormones such as testosterone along with sexual hormone binding globulin (SHBG), researchers from the New England Research Institutes performed a population based observational survey. Their goal was to determine whether there was a relationship between male sex hormone levels and metabolic syndrome. This also included a relationship between hormone levels and the individual pathologies which are attributed to metabolic syndrome as well.
Health: Implications of Metabolic Syndrome on Heart DiseaseWhat the researchers discovered is that their large sample based survey of 1885 men showed a consistent inverse relationship between decreased sex hormone levels and a higher risk of metabolic syndrome. Fortunately, the large sample base for this survey also included a broader spectrum of ethnicities and races. The results were consistent among these subpopulations.
What you can take away from this study is that low levels of male hormones such as testosterone and SHBG are associated with risk factors from metabolic syndrome. These would include increased adiposity, insulin resistance, poor lipid profiles, elevated blood pressure, high levels inflammation, and increased risk of stroke as well increased coronary heart disease.
While supraphysiological levels of testosterone is considered to be unhealthy, so are low levels. Obviously like many things in life, balance is key to success. Let’s just hope that testosterone gets a fair and balanced assessment as well and the efforts of progressive medical community aren’t overshadowed by overzealous media and political movements.
Kupelian V, Hayes FJ, Link CL, Rosen R, McKinlay JB.Inverse association of testosterone and the metabolic syndrome in men is consistent across race and ethnic groups. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Jun 17.
Full text found here.
June 23, 2008 at 7:20 am
Balanced hormones are so important in men and women and most women as they get to be my age don’t even realize they become "estrogen dominant" which has a whole slew of health problems as well as physique consequences! Great post and I hope Men and Women will start to feel more comfortable getting their hormone levels checked!
July 8, 2008 at 7:20 pm
test. 399 got scrip for androderm 2.5s using one a day
any advise