E-Newsletter No. 79

The loss of testosterone can be due to failure of gonadal (testicular) function, or deficient pituitary secretion. A new population-based study shows that testosterone levels can be sustained throughout a man’s life- span if he is healthy.      According to the study, declining testosterone is likely to be the result of lifestyle and chronic disease-related factors other than aging. Serum test- osterone measurements from 1,382 men ages 35-80 years during two separate clinic visits 5 years apart. 290 of the men were bachelors, about 162 smoked, about 414 were overweight or obese, nearly half had central obesity, and about 110 were depressed. On average, testosterone levels declined less than one percent each year. The men who had significant declines were those who became obese, had chronic cardiovascular dis- ease, were depressed, quit smoking, or were unmarried.      The conclusion was that testosterone decline is caused by health and life- style factors rather than just the result of normal aging. Thus, health care providers need to be aware that significant declines in testosterone levels is an indicator suggesting critical underlying problems which require investi- gation and treatment. • Araujo AB, Shi Z, Martin SM, Wittert GA. Longitudinal changes in testosterone over 5 years in community-dwelling men. Endo 2012, Abstract MON-34.

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