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Testosterone helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, more. And it’s not just for men...

The sex hormone testosterone gives a man his beard, deep voice and sex drive. It also may give all of us—men and women—better health and a longer life.
Research shows that low levels of testosterone may increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Low testosterone also can trigger fatigue, low libido, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia), muscular weakness, poor endurance, irritability, poor concentration and poor memory. What you need to know now…

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An estimated 40% of men age 45 and older have testosterone deficiency—total testosterone below 300 ng/dL. (This phenomenon is called by various names, including andropause, male menopause and hypogonadism.) This deficiency is linked to…

Cardiovascular disease (CVD). In a four-year study, men with one risk factor for heart disease (such as high blood pressure) were four times more likely to develop CVD if they had low testosterone. Other studies link low testosterone to an increased risk for stroke, blood clots, high total cholesterol, high LDL “bad” cholesterol and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats that can trigger a heart attack or stroke). One such study concluded that “testosterone levels may be a stronger predictor of coronary artery disease than high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and body mass index.”
Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome—a risk factor for type 2 diabetes—is a constellation of health problems that can include insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and low HDL “good” cholesterol. In a recent two-year study, metabolic syndrome was completely reversed in 65% of men on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Osteoporosis. A study found that men with low testosterone had an 88% higher risk for hip fracture.
Midlife male depression. A study from Columbia University showed that TRT completely reversed depression in more than 50% of depressed men.
Alzheimer’s disease. Research links higher levels of testosterone with better blood flow to the brain, better memory and less risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Death from any cause. In a study of 900 men, those with low testosterone had a 43% higher risk for all-cause mortality (dying from any cause). In another, seven-year study, every 173 ng/dL increase in total testosterone levels was linked to a 21% lower risk for all-cause mortality.