Initial media
interpretation (September 16) of a scientific paper reporting that genes related
to risk factors for heart disease in men reacted to the hormone testosterone,
has been both misleading and alarmist, a leading men’s health doctor said
today.
“Men should be aware that
it is men with too little testosterone who are at greater risk of heart
attack”, he said.
Dr Adrian Zentner, Medical Director of the National Well Men
Program said that “whilst these laboratory experiments are important and
significant in helping scientists to understand how risk factors may be
activated at the genetic level, they bear no relation to clinical experience in
human beings.”
“Latest clinical studies
published in the refereed medical literature overwhelmingly show that low
testosterone levels in men are linked to increased risk of heart attack, whilst
restoring normal, physiological levels, reduces the risk” Dr Zentner said.
“For example, Malkin et
al in their paper “Testosterone as a Protective Factor Against
Atherosclerosis” published this month in the Journal of Endocrinology state
that “ men with low testosterone levels are at increased risk of coronary
artery disease”. There is an
expanding body of international research to back this position.”
“Theoretical predictions
based on laboratory findings in cell cultures are often not reflected in the
living human being. For example, low testosterone levels in men are responsible,
amongst other symptoms, for fatigue, lethargy, reduced muscle mass and tone and
limit the man’s ability to exercise and keep fit. This and other “human
elements” need to be taken into account when trying to extrapolate findings
from the test tube to the man,” Dr Zentner said.
“There is no need for men
to be concerned about normal, physiological testosterone levels.
They should be aware that low levels of testosterone, that
seriously affect life style by causing fatigue, depression, irritability and
intolerance to stress, low libido and a general lack of zest for life, are a
truly sinister foe” Dr Zentner said.
The vast body of evidence
accumulating from clinical studies of “real men” supports the view that
maintaining normal, physiological levels of testosterone is earning its place
alongside exercise, weight loss, lowering cholesterol and stopping smoking as an
important risk reduction measure for coronary artery disease.
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