Testosterone Important for Men and Women
LifeXMD,com -- Dec. 28, 2012 --Testosterone levels normally decline with age, contributing to the physiological changes seen in aging men. Low testosterone is associated with many adverse health conditions, including diminished libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle tone, increased abdominal fat, low bone density, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease.
Researchers in Finland linked low testosterone levels to the development of metabolic syndrome. They measured testosterone levels in men who did not have metabolic syndrome or diabetes and followed the subjects for 11 years. Men with lower levels of total testosterone more than doubled their risk of developing metabolic syndrome. The researchers noted, “hypoandrogenism is an early marker for disturbances in insulin and glucose metabolism that may progress to metabolic syndrome.” Another investigation by the same research group found that in obese men with metabolic syndrome, weight loss increases total and free testosterone levels.
Diminished testosterone levels may also be implicated in the development of diabetes. In a Japanese-American male cohort, lower baseline total testosterone levels independently predicted an increase in intra-abdominal (belly) fat. Investigators suggested that by “predisposing to an increase in visceral adiposity, low levels of testosterone may increase the risk of [type II] diabetes mellitus.” In addition to increasing diabetes risk, greater visceral adiposity increases the risk for hypertension, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Testosterone may protect cardiovascular health through anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects. British investigators found that testosterone replacement therapy in men with symptomatic androgen insufficiency decreased levels of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b), and increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). Proinflammatory cytokines mediate the onset of atherosclerosis. Moreover, the researchers found a significant reduction in total cholesterol in the testosterone-supplemented patients. In a recently published study, researchers found that testosterone replacement therapy in hypogonadal men improves mood and is associated with potentially beneficial reductions of total cholesterol and serum TNF-a.8
Importance of Testosterone in Women
Although women produce only small quantities of testosterone, mounting evidence indicates that this important hormone helps women maintain muscle strength, bone mass, and sexual function. Testosterone levels decrease following menopause, and restoring testosterone levels may help improve well-being and libido.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine examined the effects of transdermal testosterone patches on 75 women, aged 31-56, with diminished testosterone levels due to hysterectomy and removal of both ovaries. Investigators found a significant improvement in sexual function, mood, and general well-being in the women who received the 300-mcg patch compared to those using the 150-mcg patch or placebo.
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Adapted from Life Extension Magazine
