The Link Between Testosterone and Cardiovascular Health

The link between testosterone levels and cardiovascular health is an exciting area of medicine that is continuing to be researched. While not everything is known about this link, we do know several benefits of testosterone on cardiovascular health. One of the primary benefits is that as testosterone levels rise, cholesterol levels tend to fall. Low LDL cholesterol levels are linked to improved cardiovascular health outcomes. This is reflected by the fact that folks with higher levels of testosterone have lowered risk for developing cardiovascular disease (Kloner et al., 2016).

Low testosterone levels are incredibly common among both women and men, as levels naturally decline as part of the aging process. On average, testosterone levels decline 1-3% per year in men after age 30 (Feldman et al., 2002). This decline has been linked to an increase in cardiovascular health risk (Kloner et al., 2016). Specifically, low testosterone levels have been associated with insulin resistance (Rao et al., 2013). Researchers suspect that higher testosterone levels my be linked to decreased insulin resistance, although research is ongoing. This theory would make sense, as testosterone is involved in promoting glucose utilization in the body by stimulating glucose uptake. (Rao et al., 2013). Testosterone also supports the production of ATP, which is essential for proper brain function and helps to prevent neurodegeneration.

If you’re concerned that your hormone levels are low, schedule a visit with one of our hormone specialists. They can help you accurately understand your hormone levels and address any imbalances.

References

Feldman HA, Longcope C, Derby CA, et al. Age trends in the level of serum testosterone and other hormones in middle-aged men: longitudinal results from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;87:589-598

Kloner R, Carson C, Dobs A, et al. Testosterone and Cardiovascular Disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016 Feb, 67 (5) 545–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2015.12.005

Rao, P. M., Kelly, D. M., & Jones, T. H. (2013). Testosterone and insulin resistance in the metabolic syndrome and T2DM in men. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 9(8). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2013.122