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Middle-aged and older men who are concerned that falling testosterone levels could increase their risk for cardiovascular disease may consider taking their workouts up a notch instead of turning to testosterone supplements. Not only does exercise help increase testosterone levels, it also appears to improve artery health in ways that don’t happen with supplements, according to a study published in February 2021 in Hypertension.
The 12-week study included 78 men aged 50 to 70 with low or normal testosterone levels and no history of cardiovascular disease who could engage in a supervised training program with aerobic and strength training two to three. days a week. The researchers randomly assigned the men to one of four groups: testosterone supplements with or without supervised workouts, or placebo supplements with or without an exercise program.
At the start and end of the study period, the researchers measured arterial function using a method that increases blood flow within an artery to determine whether the inner wall of the artery artery is healthy and can help the artery to increase in size or dilate.
Not surprisingly, testosterone levels increased more in the men who took the supplements. On average, 62% of men who received these supplements had above-average testosterone levels at the end of the study, compared to just 29% of men who received placebo.
Benefits of exercise Artery health
But the biggest increase in testosterone levels with supplements didn’t translate into healthier arteries. Artery function and health improved in men who exercised, but not in those who took supplements without exercising.
And among men who exercised, blood function improved by 28% when they weren’t taking testosterone supplements, compared to just 19% when taking testosterone.
“Other studies have shown that exercise is good for the arteries,” says Bu Beng Yeap, MBBS, PhD, study co-author and endocrinologist at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, Australia.
“Our study indicates that the testosterone treatment, despite the increase in testosterone levels in the treated men, did not have a beneficial effect on the health of the arteries, nor did it improve the effect of the physical training, ”says Dr. Yeap.
Study limitations
Although the results of the study highlight that exercise is a key part of improving health, it is possible that it was too brief to show the significant benefits of the combination of testosterone and supplementation. supervised exercises, says Jesse Ory, MD, urology researcher at the University of Miami. Miller School of Medicine in Florida, which did not participate in the study.
Some men who have low testosterone can get the energy they need for exercise by taking testosterone supplements, Dr. Ory adds.
One of the limitations of the study is that it did not specifically focus on men with what’s known as hypogonadism or very low testosterone levels. The results of the study could look very different if the researchers focused only on men with hypogonadism who would meet the clinical criteria for treatment with testosterone supplements, says Robert Eckel, MD, former president of the American Heart. Association and Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
“Testosterone is not necessary unless hypogonadism is accurately diagnosed,” says Dr Eckel, who was not in the study.
According to the American Urological Association, up to 1 in 4 men who take testosterone supplements do not have their hormone levels checked first, and up to a third of them are not testosterone deficient.
“The overall increase in the use of testosterone has been very significant, especially in middle aged and older men who might view it as a restorative hormone to increase energy and vitality,” says Daniel Green. , PhD, also from the University of Western, lead author of the study. Australia to Perth.
Testosterone studies with mixed results
Some previous studies have linked testosterone supplements to improvements in artery health and function, but others have not.
For example, a small study published in 2016 in Translational andrology and urology found that men with hypogonadism who took testosterone supplements improved artery health after three months. Another small study published in 2015 in Clinical endocrinology found that testosterone therapy improved artery health in men with hypogonadism after six months.
But other small earlier studies, including one published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism and another published in Clinical endocrinology found the opposite results. In these studies, the men with hypogonadism who took testosterone in this study had poorer arterial health and function after six months.
Who needs testosterone?
Many men who want to stay healthy as they age will be able to get the results they want – including a lower risk of heart disease – from eating right and getting enough exercise, Yeap says.
“Some men may have pituitary or testicular disorders and be unable to produce testosterone, and in these men medical supervision of testosterone is generally beneficial,” Yeap says.
Often, middle aged and older men have lower testosterone levels which is due to being overweight or unhealthy lifestyle, with no indication of pituitary or testicular disease.
“Rather than seeking testosterone prescriptions, these men should be encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles, exercise and reduce their excess weight,” Yeap adds. “It would improve the health of the arteries and could also help men feel generally healthier.”
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