A new study, published online in Clinical Endocrinology News, shows that, contrary to popular belief, a declining level of testosterone does not necessarily go hand-in-hand with aging in men. More likely, say the study authors, low testosterone is an indication of a health problem.
After following nearly 1,400 men (average age of 54) for five years, researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia did not find any significant change in testosterone levels among the participants, which dropped, on average, only from 16.2 nmol/L at baseline to 15.6nmol/L.
Despite the relatively stable testosterone levels overall, lead author Dr. Gary A. Wittert pointed out that there were several men who did show a significant decrease, and that such rapid declines may be symptomatic of other health concerns, such as depression, cardiovascular disease, or obesity. In fact, men who gained weight or became obese during the course of the study experienced a significant decrease in testosterone levels. In comparison, those who lost weight actually saw an increase in their testosterone levels, while men who maintained a normal weight showed no change.
The nuanced results suggest that individual health status, not the aging process itself, is a more likely cause of changes in testosterone level. I think the most important target for preventing the decline in testosterone and all its consequences is to deal with the...obesity epidemic and maintain the healthiest possible lifestyle, Dr. Wittert stated.
But ACSH's Dr. Gilbert Ross notes what he considers to be the study s most significant result: The correlation between weight and testosterone level is a promising finding, lending even more evidence to the benefits associated with maintaining a healthful weight. Yet he remains somewhat skeptical about generalizing the conclusions that men generally do not sustain a drop in male hormone levels with age based upon this small study.
