New Study: Testosterone Supplements for Men Not Linked to Heart Attacks

A new study brought good news about testosterone and heart health — two of the biggest concerns for men in middle age and beyond.

The Cleveland Clinic study results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that testosterone supplementation in men with low testosterone is not linked to heart attacks, reversing the finding of a 2010 study.

Researcher Shalender Bhasin, a professor at Harvard Medical School who led the new study, told StatNews the results were “very reassuring.”

The new gold-standard study — randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled — enrolled 5,246 men, 45 to 80 years of age, who had pre-existing or a high risk of cardiovascular disease and who reported symptoms of low testosterone, with the low levels confirmed in blood tests.

Bhasin said about three per cent of men aged 40 to 85 have below normal testosterone levels.

 

Concerns About Misuse

 

The researchers cautioned that these reassuring results applied only to men with low testosterone. “This was a specific group of men with a disease,” Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Dr. Steven Nissen, a lead researcher, told StatNews. “We do not want our study to be used as a justification for the widespread prescription of testosterone as a tonic for aging men so that they can try to feel like they were 18 to 25 years of age again. And I’m concerned that there will be misuse.”

“I can see the ads now,” Nissen added.

Toronto physician Dr. John Aquino, a men’s health specialist, explains that “If you have a normal level of testosterone, any additional amount you take will turn off your own production of the hormone. “It’s not something to take lightly.”

Nevertheless, for those three per cent of men who do have lowered levels as they age, testosterone supplementation can be a godsend.

“A lot of men [with low testosterone] may have mild depression, fatigue, mood swings, sexual problems, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure,” Aquino told Zoomer. “And a lot of men [who need supplementation] aren’t getting access to it.”

That’s because it’s associated with 30-year-old guys who want to be buff, he suggests, so even men who could use it are steered away from it.

“For some men, as they age, testosterone drops a little, it’s not a big deal, they feel fine. And you can have two men with borderline numbers and one feels fine and the other is symptomatic.

“You have to look at the symptoms, not the numbers.”

When indicated, Aquino will suggest a three-month trial of testosterone supplements. “If he’s still feeling like his crummy old self, then it’s not the answer. But maybe he’ll feel that he has more mental clarity, performs better at work, he’s in a better mood at home and he’s more eager to exercise and have an active lifestyle.”

One patient he uses as an example of someone benefiting from testosterone is a carpenter. “He’d go to work, get a pile of two-by-fours for framing something, stare at them and wonder, ‘How do I start, what do I do here?’ After he started treatment, he’d go to work, see the pile and know exactly what to do.

“A lot of men can’t describe it as well as that, but they feel that something’s not right.”

 

More Testing Needed

 

More men in middle age and beyond should be getting their testosterone levels checked and, if necessary, discuss supplements with their health care providers, advises Aquino.

“Guys are terrible at seeing the doctor. They don’t even know how to go to the doctor to talk about what they’re experiencing. They’ll just brood at home and get grumpier until finally the wife will kick their ass to go to the doctor.”

As well, doctors don’t always suggest checking testosterone levels, he says.

“They don’t want to do the numbers and treating it is a real pain, especially now when doctors are overwhelmed, because there’s a lot of follow-up involved. The whole field is not in a good place.”

The bottom line? Men 45-plus should consider getting their testosterone levels checked if they have any symptoms.

Disclaimer: Always consult with your doctor or health care professional if you have any questions regarding your health or a medical condition.

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