Prostate Cancer Risk and Heart Health in Men
The researchers wanted to study the effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in men with low testosterone levels, also known as hypogonadism. They were particularly interested in the relationship between TRT and prostate cancer risk, as well as the treatment's effect on heart health.
They followed 81 men, average age about 57, who had been on TRT for an average of around 34 months. Before starting TRT, these men all had normal levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) - a substance produced by the prostate that can indicate cancer when levels are high. They also had various health checks done regularly, including body mass index (BMI), blood tests, and liver function tests.
After 36 months of TRT, the men's testosterone levels increased significantly. Four of the men (about 5%) developed prostate cancer an average of 32.5 months after starting TRT. But for the men who didn't get prostate cancer (around 95%), their PSA levels didn't increase significantly over 5 years. Even among different age groups, there wasn't a notable change in PSA levels from the beginning to the 36 months mark. But for those who got prostate cancer, the average PSA level increased significantly at 18 and 36 months after starting TRT.
The total cholesterol level of the men improved significantly after 36 months of TRT. However, the men's BMI, blood tests, and liver function tests didn't show much change.
In conclusion, this study suggests that TRT can effectively normalize testosterone levels in men with low testosterone, possibly have positive effects on heart health, and does not increase the risk of prostate cancer more than what is seen in the general population. The researchers found that if prostate cancer did develop, it could be diagnosed and treated successfully in men taking TRT. Coward, R.M., Simhan, J. and Carson III, C.C. (2009), Prostate-specific antigen changes and prostate cancer in hypogonadal men treated with testosterone replacement therapy. BJU International, 103: 1179-1183. This paper once again shows that prostate cancer is not caused by Testosterone! Jason & Rita.
