Testosterone is predominantly produced by the testicles in men. Women’s ovaries produce small amounts. The adrenal glands also produce small amounts in both sexes. Testosterone plays a key role in sexual functioning. In addition to aiding in sperm production, this steroid hormone also improves libido, increases energy, helps produce red blood cells, and protects against osteoporosis. Testosterone is an androgen and an anabolic steroid.

Blood levels of testosterone vary over a wide range. Testosterone levels gradually begin to decline during the third or early fourth decade of life at a steady rate. As a result, older men have significantly lower levels compared to their younger counterparts. Testosterone levels can also be low due to various diseases. The cutoff number is 250 ng/dL, levels below this are considered low.

What is the connection between testosterone and heart disease?

Low testosterone levels have been associated with an increased risk of developing and dying from cardiovascular disease. In a recent study by Laughlin and associates, men with low levels and in the lowest quartile were 40% more likely to die prematurely, especially from cardiovascular disease. These findings were not affected by age, lipid levels, and other risk factors. The study involved 794 men aged 50 to 91, who were followed for 20 years. The study was published in 2008 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

In 2007, the results of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer in the Norfolk study were published in Circulation. In this study, Khaw and her associates monitored 11,000 patients ages 40 to 79 for their testosterone levels and death. They found that the latter were inversely related: low testosterone levels correlated with a higher rate of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all other causes.

In another study, Shores and colleagues found that low testosterone levels were associated with an increased risk of mortality in male veterans. The male population was over 40 years old and did not have prostate cancer. The study was conducted in Seattle and was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2006.

How does low testosterone cause cardiovascular disease?

The exact mechanism by which low testosterone causes the disease is unclear, but there are several postulated cardiovascular mechanisms. Patients with low testosterone levels tend to have more visceral obesity. Visceral obesity is responsible for the apple-shaped body (compared to the pear-shaped body, in which fat is predominantly deposited in the hips and buttocks). More commonly, this is called a ‘beer belly’ or ‘beer belly’. Visceral fat is packed between internal organs in the peritoneal cavity (abdominal cavity). In contrast, subcutaneous fat is found under the skin and intramuscular fat is found in skeletal muscle. Visceral fat is metabolically more active and synthesizes more heart-damaging fatty acids, triglycerides, and adipokines than non-visceral fat. Low testosterone is also associated with the development of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. In a study published in 2007, men with the lowest levels of testosterone were four times more likely to develop diabetes compared to men with the highest levels. These data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were published by Selvin and her group in Diabetes Care. Patients with low testosterone levels have higher levels of insulin and triglycerides, both of which are detrimental to the cardiovascular system.

Should You Take Testosterone To Reduce Heart Disease?

There have been no scientific studies that found testosterone replacement to reduce heart disease. There just hasn’t been a study done. However, English and associates found that in patients with established coronary artery disease, testosterone replacement reduced exercise-induced chest pain. These data were published in the European Heart Journal in 2000.

Summary

Testosterone is a predominantly male hormone produced by the testes and adrenal glands. It is responsible for libido in both sexes and for sperm production in men. It is also associated with increased energy, red blood cell production, and prevention of osteoporosis. Testosterone levels normally decline with age, with older men having much lower levels than their younger counterparts. Low testosterone levels have been linked to a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality, and death from all causes. There is no published research on whether taking testosterone supplements will reduce cardiovascular disease and death.