Low testosterone levels linked to higher risk of premature death: study

• A study of 24,109 men found that low testosterone levels were linked to a higher risk of premature death.
• The results suggest that this hormone is an important indicator of men’s health and longevity.
• It’s not clear whether hormone therapy increases longevity, but habits like diet and exercise may help.

Testosterone levels could be an important indicator of longevity in men, new research suggests.

A study of more than 24,000 men from around the world found that low testosterone was linked to a higher risk of dying prematurely, according to a study published May 13 in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from the University of Western Australia worked with a global team of scientists to compare baseline testosterone levels with health outcomes using data from previous studies of older men, with an average age of late from the forties to the mid-70s.

They found a higher risk of dying prematurely, from any cause, in men with low baseline testosterone levels, defined as less than 213 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). Healthy testosterone levels can range from 260 to 900 ng/dL depending on age, a urologist previously told Business Insider.

The analysis also found that men with very low testosterone levels (below 153 ng/dL) were at higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

The results are observational, meaning the researchers found a trend but did not directly show that low testosterone leads to a higher mortality rate.

Still, the new study helps shed light on mixed research around longevity and hormone, particularly when it comes to boosting low testosterone with hormone therapy, an independent researcher wrote in an editorial published alongside the study.

Testosterone is a big deal in longevity and biohacking

The latest study focused on endogenous testosterone, the one naturally present in the body, and not on hormone therapy. However, understanding how testosterone can help or harm longevity could make big waves in the booming hormone therapy market, made up of products and services advertised to help men regain their youth with pills, patches , injections or gels.

Many entrepreneurs touting testosterone as an anti-aging panacea are also involved in biohacking, using science to try to optimize health and extend lifespan.

However, it is not yet clear whether supplementing testosterone will increase longevity, and there is evidence to the contrary. The FDA previously issued a warning that testosterone-boosting treatments may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, although subsequent research has since found no significant increase in heart problems.

Signs of Low Testosterone and What to Do About It

Testosterone levels tend to decline with age and can also decline in response to health conditions and medications.

Low testosterone can cause symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and disturbances in mood and libido.

Lifestyle factors, such as a nutritious diet, sufficient physical activity, and stress management, are linked to healthy testosterone levels and may also play a role in preventing heart disease and other illnesses chronicles.

Treatments such as hormone replacement therapy by pill, injection, gel or patch can help raise testosterone levels to normal levels. However, medical monitoring is essential to avoid any unexpected side effects from changing hormone levels, doctors told Business Insider.