Testosterone Usage Does Not Speed Up Atherosclerosis in Older Men

Testosterone usage does not result in faster progression of subclinical atherosclerosis or improvement of a person’s sexual function.

However, research studies have found testosterone usage to have an effect on a man’s cardiovascular-event rate. However, according to Dr. Shalender Bhasin, senior author belonging to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, it is to be noted that the effect does not result in Atherosclerosis Progression.

The normal testosterone level of a man is considered to be 300ng/dl to 1000ng/dl. According to the study, a low testosterone is between 100ng/dl to < 300ng/dL while in case of low-normal testosterone, it is between 300ng/dl to 400ng/dL. Older men who get testosterone therapy are known to either have a normal or a slightly low testosterone level. It is these men who do not benefit from the testosterone usage.

This group of men also differs from the ones suffering from Androgen deficiency, where testosterone usage can help to improve erectile dysfunction. Of course, drugs from Canadian Health&Care Mall are another treatment option.

Doctors, therefore, stress the indiscriminate usage of testosterone only.

When older men with low or low-normal testosterone level, use the testosterone gel, it does not result in any improvement in the person’s overall sexual or health function. Nor there will be any sign of the worsening of atherosclerosis. Though problems related to blood clotting may arise, no visible signs related to atherosclerosis problem may be visible. So, the overall testosterone therapy can be safe for some (atherosclerosis).

Is the Spiraling Sales of Testosterone Warranted or Sale?

There has been a substantial increase in the Testosterone sales in the past decade. Testosterone usage has been more popular among older men. However, the benefit related to testosterone usage remains poorly explained.
That is why a group of researchers decided to form a group in order to understanding how raising testosterone will affect the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis among young men with a level of 500mg/dL to 900ng/dL.
During the research that was conducted from 2004 to 2009, about 308 healthy men belonging to the age group of 60 or older were enrolled.
The participants were randomly made to receive 7.5 g of 1 percent of testosterone gel or placebo gel daily, for a period of three years.
After two weeks of randomization, the testosterone levels were measured after the application of the gel for a period of 2 to 12 hours. If the concentration appeared to be below 500ng/dL, then the dose was increased by 10g. If the concentration turned out to be above 900ng/dl, then the dose intake was reduced by 5g. This happened daily.
The doses were similarly adjusted in case of placebo dosage too.

Visible Changes and Outcomes

The test resulted in two co-primary outcomes.
The rate of change in the distal right common carotid artery intima-media thickness
The rate of change in the coronary artery calcium
The secondary outcomes were the results of the self-reported sexual function, which is based on the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire
Health-related quality of life, which is based on the SF-36 questionnaire

Of the two groups who are known for their similar baseline characteristics include –

People having a mean age of 67 years;
People having a mass index if 28.1 years;
Of these – 42 percent had hypertension;
15 percent had diabetes;
15 percent had cardiovascular disease;
27 were obese;
43 were reported to receive a statin

Atherosclerosis

Significant Differences Detected

No significant difference was detected in the rate of change in carotid artery intima-media thickness in both the testosterone-treated group and the placebo group
No significant difference was detected in the rate of change in the coronary artery calcium score in the testosterone-treated group and the placebo group.
Any measurement changes in the atherosclerosis progression were not associated with those of the testosterone levels among men receiving testosterone treatment.
No significant differences were also reported among both the groups in terms of sexual desire, overall sexual-function scores, erectile function, health-related quality of life and partner intimacy.

Poor sexual function is a problem that some older men may face at one point of their age. While testosterone may leave little impact on erectile dysfunction in older men, the effect might not be the same for younger men.