Critically low testosterone levels in men raise the likelihood of dying from cancer by 18 percent, according to a large international study reported by infohub.kz.
The research was led by Professor Bu Yeap of the University of Western Australia. His team analyzed data from more than 26,000 men who took part in 11 long-term studies conducted in the United States, Australia and European countries. The researchers compared sex hormone levels in stored blood samples with diagnoses and deaths recorded over several decades.
They found that men whose testosterone levels fell in the bottom fifth of the range had an 18 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than those in the top fifth.
The researchers also identified a threshold concentration
The researchers also identified a threshold concentration for the hormone: the risk of developing cancer and of dying from it begins to rise when testosterone drops below 8.6 nmol/L. In healthy young men, levels typically range from 10 to 30 nmol/L, but they decline gradually with age and also depend on body mass index, physical activity levels and the presence of diabetes. The authors stress that the link they found acts as a biomarker rather than a direct cause of cancer.
One unexpected finding was the complete absence of any link between a man’s own testosterone level and the risk of developing prostate cancer, even though suppressing this androgen is a standard treatment for the tumor. Instead, low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and of pituitary luteinizing hormone were associated with prostate cancer.
Professor Yeap warned men against taking hormone drugs on their own, since there is no evidence that supplements have a protective effect. According to him, low testosterone should prompt a comprehensive medical examination.
