Testosterone and Prostate Cancer: An Historical Perspective on a Modern Myth

Morgentaler A.

Eur Urol. 2006 Jul 26

CONCLUSIONS: This historical perspective reveals that there is not now-nor has there ever been-a scientific basis for the belief that T causes pCA to grow. Discarding this modern myth will allow exploration of alternative hypotheses regarding the relationship of T and pCA that may be clinically and scientifically rewarding.

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Testosterone replacement therapy and the risk of prostate cancer
The article says “The belief that testosterone increases the risk of prostate cancer is so widely accepted that study after study that tries to show it and can’t keeps getting repeated over and over,” says Dr. Abraham Morgentaler, a Boston urologist and author of the 2004 review. “People don’t believe it.”

Estradiol, Testosterone, and Hip Fractures in Men

Researchers writing in The American Journal of Medicine say “Men with low estradiol levels are at an increased risk for future hip fracture. Men with both low estradiol and low testosterone levels seem to be at greatest risk for hip fracture.”

Estradiol, Testosterone, and Hip Fractures in Men.
Shreyasee A, Zhang Y, Felson DT, Sawin CT, Hannan MT, Wilson PWF, Kiel DP. Estradiol, Testosterone, and the Risk for Hip Fractures in Elderly Men from the Framingham Study. The American Journal of Medicine Volume 119, Issue 5 , May 2006, Pages 426-433

Link Between Testosterone and Prostate Cancer

March 14, 2006
Testosterone Replacement Therapy and the Risk of Prostate Cancer. Is there a link?

Writing in the Canadian Journal of Urology, Researcher Abraham Morgentaler of the Division of Urology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, says that “there is an absence of scientific data supporting the concept that higher testosterone levels are associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.”

Specifically, no increased risk of prostate cancer was noted in 1) clinical trials of testosterone supplementation, 2) longitudinal population-based studies, or 3) in a high-risk population of hypogonadal men receiving testosterone treatment. Moreover, hypogonadal men have a substantial rate of biopsy-detectable prostate cancer, suggesting that low testosterone has no protective effect against development of prostate cancer.

These results argue against an increased risk of prostate cancer with testosterone replacement therapy.

Morgentaler A.Testosterone replacement therapy and prostate risks: where’s the beef? Can J Urol. 2006 Feb;13 Suppl 1:40-3. Read the abstract

From our December 6, 2005 Newsletter
An article by Susan Brink of the Los Angeles Times recently appeared in newspapers around the country discussing the link between testosterone and prostate cancer.

The article says “The belief that testosterone increases the risk of prostate cancer is so widely accepted that study after study that tries to show it and can’t keeps getting repeated over and over,” says Dr. Abraham Morgentaler, a Boston urologist and author of the 2004 review. “People don’t believe it.”

Here is a press release from the Harvard Medical School.

“Boston–January 2004, Harvard Medical School affiliate Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center–A retrospective analysis by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center published in The New England Journal of Medicine found no causal relationship between testosterone replacement and prostate cancer or heart disease risk. The comprehensive review of 72 studies, addresses the current controversy about testosterone replacement therapy and its potential health risks to men.”

Androgen Deficiency, Metabolic Syndrome and Non-Obese Men

Researchers writing in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism report that “Low SHBG, total testosterone, or AD (Androgen Deficiency) may be early markers of MetS (Metabolic Syndrome) in nonobese men, providing a warning sign in men otherwise considered at lower risk of developing MetS and subsequent diabetes or cardiovascular disease.”

From the study: “Low serum SHBG, low total testosterone, and clinical AD are associated with increased risk of developing MetS over time, particularly in non-overweight middle-aged men.”

You can read the abstract here and link to the a free copy of the entire study from there.
Kupelian V, Page ST, Araujo AB, Bremner WJ, McKinlay JB. Low SHBG, Total Testosterone, and Symptomatic Androgen with Development of the Metabolic Syndrome. J Clin Endocrin Metab. January 4, 2006

Loss of Libido

Sexual activity and perceived health – middle-aged women
Finnish researchers asked women between 42-46 and other women between 52-56 years old, how important issues of libido and intimacy where to their quality of life. The reported their findings in Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.

Testosterone and Libido in Post Menopausal Women
Researchers writing in the medical journal Gynecological Endocrinology say that there is emerging evidence that androgens are significant independent determinants affecting libido and satisfaction, as well as mood, energy and other components of women’s health.

Testosterone in postmenopausal women
An article in the medical journal Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology says that testosterone therapy is a promising option for treating women with HSDD (very low libido or desire)

Older Men and Testosterone
From the study abstract: “Male hypogonadism is a clinical situation characterized by a low serum testosterone level in combination with a diversity of symptoms and signs such as reduced libido and vitality, decreased muscle mass, increased fat mass and depression.

Dr. Darrow Interviewed on KCAL-9
CBS News August 3, 2006

Desire, Arousal, and Satisfaction in Aging Women
Researchers writing ion the medical journal Minerva ginecologica examined issues related to aging and desire and arousal.

Male and Female Intimacy Dysfunctions
Researchers writing in the medical journal Lancet report on endocrine disease and male and female intimacy dysfunctions.

Intimacy, Urinary, and Depressive Problems In Women Who Have Partners With E.D.
Researchers writing in the medical journal World Journal of Urology say that FSD disorders, urinary symptoms and depressive symptoms are common in partners of men with ED.

Testosterone for Men Studies and News Items

Testosterone replacement therapy and the risk of prostate cancer
The article says “The belief that testosterone increases the risk of prostate cancer is so widely accepted that study after study that tries to show it and can’t keeps getting repeated over and over,” says Dr. Abraham Morgentaler, a Boston urologist and author of the 2004 review. “People don’t believe it.”

Testosterone and Reduction in Cardiovascular Risk
Researchers writing in the European Journal of Endocrinology say that “Testosterone replacement therapy reduces insulin resistance and improves glycaemic control in hypogonadal men with type 2 diabetes. Improvements in glycaemic control, insulin resistance, cholesterol and visceral adiposity together represent an overall reduction in cardiovascular risk.”

Testosterone, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease
New research says Testosterone may have a protective role in the development of metabolic syndrome and subsequent diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease in aging men.

Testosterone’s favorable effects on an important metabolic component of chronic heart failure
Researchers writing in the European Journal of Heart Failure say that testosterone improves fasting insulin sensitivity in men with chronic heart failure and may also increase lean body mass, these data suggest a favorable effect of testosterone on an important metabolic component of CHF.

Low Testosterone and men over 45
Researchers writing in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, studied the prevalence of hypogonadism (testosterone deficiency) in men age 45 and over.

Androgen Deficiency, Metabolic Syndrome and Non-Obese Men
Researchers writing in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism report that “Low SHBG, total testosterone, or AD (Androgen Deficiency) may be early markers of MetS (Metabolic Syndrome) in nonobese men.

More Body Mass…Diminished Testosterone
Researchers writing in the medical journal Archives of Andrology say total testosterone and SHBG concentrations proportionally diminished with both the increase of BMI (body mass index) and insulin resistance index.

Low testosterone levels – higher risk of anemia
Researchers writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine say that Older men and women with low testosterone levels have a higher risk of anemia.

Low Testosterone and the Pro-Inflammatory State in Aging Men
Researchers writing in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation “suggest that a close relationship exists between the development of a pro-inflammatory state and the decline in Testosterone levels, two trends that are often observed in aging men”

Testosterone Replacement Therapy and the Risk of Prostate Cancer. Is there a link?
Writing in the Canadian Journal of Urology, Researcher Abraham Morgentaler of the Division of Urology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, says that “there is an absence of scientific data supporting the concept that higher testosterone levels are associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.

Testosterone’s favorable effects on an important metabolic component of chronic heart failure
Researchers writing in the European Journal of Heart Failure say that testosterone improves fasting insulin sensitivity in men with chronic heart failure and may also increase lean body mass, these data suggest a favorable effect of testosterone on an important metabolic component of CHF.

Testosterone, Alzheimer’s, Mood and Quality of Life
A study suggets that that testosterone replacement therapy improved overall quality of life in patients with Alzheimers Disease.

Estradiol, Testosterone, and Hip Fractures in Men
Researchers writing in The American Journal of Medicine say “Men with low estradiol levels are at an increased risk for future hip fracture. Men with both low estradiol and low testosterone levels seem to be at greatest risk for hip fracture.” Read more

Testosterone and Prostate Cancer
Is there a link between testosterone and prostate cancer?
According to a new study, “there is not now-nor has there ever been-a scientific basis for the belief that Testosterone causes pCA (Prostate Cancer) to grow.”

Testosterone and Prostate Cancer
A new paper published in the medical journal Current Treatment Options in Oncology says that “there is a varied and extensive literature indicating that TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) does not pose any increased risk of PCa (Prostate Cancer) growth in men with or without prior treatment.”

Low testosterone levels are associated with coronary artery disease
Researchers say that low testosterone levels are associated with
coronary artery disease in male patients with angina.

Low Testosterone Levels and Mortality
Researchers writing in the Annals of Internal Medicine examined “whether low testosterone levels are a risk factor for mortality in male veterans.”

Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Testosterone Deficiency
Researchers writing in the International Journal of Andrology say that there is “a direct association between subclinical hypothyroidism and hypoandrogenaemia. Testosterone deficiency and its symptoms should be kept in view while managing subclinical hypothyroidism in male patients.”

Testosterone and Prostate
Research published in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology says “Data from all published prospective studies on circulating level of total and free testosterone do not support the hypothesis that high levels of circulating androgens are associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.”

Testosterone and Cognitive Function
A new study in the European Journal of Endocrinology says “Low endogenous levels of testosterone may be related to reduced cognitive ability, and testosterone substitution may improve some aspects of cognitive ability.”

Testosterone and Muscle Strength in the Elderly
Researchers writing in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society suggest that testosterone/DHT therapy may produce a moderate increase in muscle strength in men.

Testosterone and the Aging Male
A published report in the medical journal Aging Male says “The wide-ranging benefits of testosterone therapy in young and old men are clear and it appears that the route of administration (intramuscular, oral, or transdermal) does not alter this fact, but future work could illustrate even more profound effects of testosterone (e.g., in reducing cardiovascular risk) that could result in its recommended use in a wider range of patients.”

Testosterone-insulin sensitivity and men with heart failure
Researchers writing in the European Journal of Heart Failure say “Testosterone improves fasting insulin sensitivity in men with CHF and may also increase lean body mass, these data suggest a favourable effect of testosterone on an important metabolic component of CHF”

Testosterone, Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome
Recent research in the International Journal of Impotence Research say testosterone may have a protective role in the development of metabolic syndrome and subsequent diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease in aging men. However, clinical trials are needed to confirm this assumption.

Hypoandrogen-metabolic syndrome in men
Researchers writing in the International Journal of Clinical Practice say Men with (Hypoandrogen-metabolic syndrome) and symptoms of androgen deficiency may be managed by, in the absence of contraindications, testosterone replacement therapy along with weight reduction and other measures to normalise glucose, lipid and blood pressure control.

Testosterone and Ischemic Heart Disease
Researchers writing in Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders Drug Targets examined lower testosterone levels in patients with ischemic heart disease.

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