Practical Practitioner

By: Pamela Egan, FNP-C CDE

Heart disease linked to low testosterone in men

Low testosterone levels in men could explain why more men have heart disease as they get older, according to a study published in Heart.

Low testosterone is sometimes called “male menopause” or andropause although its existence is still debated. Regardless, male testosterone levels decrease with age and men outnumber women three-to-one in terms of heart disease. Men with heart disease have lower levels of circulating testosterone than those with normally functioning arteries. Two times as many men with heart disease have decreased testosterone levels compared with men in the general population.

Testosterone dilates arteries to allow more effective blood flow. Low testosterone is linked to an adverse risk profile-too much low density lipoprotein (increased LDL) and less good high density lipoprotein cholesterol (decreased HDL), “stickier” blood, higher blood pressure and higher levels of circulating insulin.

The researchers believe there should be trials conducted on testosterone replacement and whether its risk for prostate cancer and negative effects on bone marrow outweigh the benefits.

This article was originally published May 5, 2003 in The St. Tammany News.

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