Hormonal
In elderly men (aged 55+), higher endogenous levels of total and bioavailable testosterone are independently associated with a significantly lower risk of severe aortic atherosclerosis and slower progression of the disease.
For men over 55, maintaining healthy endogenous testosterone levels appears to be a key factor in preventing aortic atherosclerosis. While this study does not prescribe testosterone therapy, it highlights that low levels are a significant risk marker. Men concerned about heart health should discuss hormone levels with their doctor, especially if they experience symptoms of low testosterone, as restoring levels to a normal physiological range may be protective against vascular calcification.
Men with levels of total and bioavailable testosterone in the highest tertile had age-adjusted relative risks of 0.4 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.2– 0.9] and 0.2 (CI, 0.1– 0.7), respectively, for the presence of severe aortic atherosclerosis.
Why this rating
Large population-based cohort (Rotterdam Study), prospective design, and multivariate adjustment for major CV risk factors, though observational nature prevents causal proof.
Source
Low Levels of Endogenous Androgens Increase the Risk of Atherosclerosis in Elderly Men: The Rotterdam Study
A. Elisabeth Hak et al. · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2002
DOI 10.1210/jcem.87.8.8762
More from this paper
- In elderly women (aged 55+), higher endogenous testosterone levels are associated with a higher risk of severe aortic atherosclerosis, although this association is largely explained by adverse cardiovascular risk factors.Good
- Endogenous levels of DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) are not clearly associated with the presence of severe aortic atherosclerosis in either elderly men or women.Good
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