Testosterone vs Mortality Part 2

Just under a year ago, I pointed out a study linking low testosterone levels to an increase in all-cause mortality in British men w/heart disease.  It turns out that low testosterone has been linked to an increase in all-cause mortality in American men in Seattle, San Diego & in general, along w/Italian, British (different group) & Swedish men in other studies.  Clearly these findings are not a result of fluke or chance but rather represent a trend.  However, it's important to determine whether cause & effect exists or just an association.

While the latest salvo published this month in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism doesn't answer the question, it does take a collective look at more studies to arrive at a similar conclusion: low testosterone is associated with increase risk of all-cause mortality (and cardiovascular) mortality.

12 studies were analyzed, including some of the aforementioned.  Of these, 11 assessed all-cause mortality in 16,184 participants while 7 assessed cardiovascular mortality in 11,831 participants.  On average, the participants were 61yo and followed for just shy of a decade.

Due to the differences in the study methodology, the authors actually suspect that the relationship between testosterone & mortality is more likely associative rather than one of cause & effect.  Clearly, we need a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial of an adequate dose of testosterone as determined by serum level in men followed for an adequate period of time to answer the question & settle the score.  Given the fiasco that was/remains WHI (Women's Health Initiative), this may be a long time coming.  In case you don't want to wait, find someone who follows the literature closely and can guide you thru the mess.

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