To say there has been a lot of controversy surrounding testosterone would be putting it mildly. It’s been thrown under the bus for supposedly causing everything from prostate cancer to heart disease.
But last year, The European Medicines Agency gave its stamp of approval on T therapy, saying there is “no consistent evidence” of an increased risk for cardiovascular problems associated with testosterone.
Of course, leave it to the FDA to make matters even more confusing. In March 2015, they issued a warning that testosterone should not be prescribed to men for problems associated with “normal aging,” because there may be an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke. Of course, as I explained back then, this warning was based on a few studies that were inconclusive.
But amid all this tug of war over whether or not to prescribe testosterone (T), a group of researchers from University of Kansas School of Medicine set out to finally settle the dilemma over the safety and effectiveness of T. And not only has this recent research proven the safety of this often misunderstood hormone, it has also confirmed some important benefits. And I don’t just mean building muscle and keeping your sex life exciting.
I’m talking about significant protection against heart attack, stroke, and early death.
The researchers studied 83,010 men who received care from the Veteran’s Administration between 1999-2014, all over age 50 with documented cases of low-T.
After approximately 5.5 years, those who had attained normal levels of T via testosterone replacement therapy were:
- 24% less likely to suffer a heart attack,
- 36% less likely to have a stroke, and
- 56% less likely to die from any cause.
Even the men treated with T who hadn’t attained normal levels yet got some impressive protection. They were:
- 18% less likely to suffer a heart attack
- 30% less likely to suffer a stroke, and
- 37% less likely to die.
It seems that normalization of T is the key, as well as the correct dosage.
This is something that was missing from the previous studies that showed an increase in adverse heart events with T therapy. None of them did a great job of assessing the subjects’ testosterone levels, so it’s not clear if they ever brought them up to normal. And that’s really the goal of T therapy.
So, once again, there is no reason to shy away from testosterone replacement. Because aside from protecting your manhood, it could save you from a heart attack.
If you haven’t been checked for low T, make an appointment to have your levels tested ASAP. And make sure you see someone who knows what they are doing.
Any good practitioner knows that each patient needs to be properly evaluated for their individual needs–then observed carefully for any adverse side effects.
If you need to find a holistic practitioner in your area, enter your zip code into the American College for Advancement in Medicine (www.acam.org) search box to find a list of physicians near you.
Resources:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/849521
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1764051
http://www.fda.gov/drugs/drugsafety/ucm436259.htm
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