Low testosterone levels in males with prostate cancer may be an indication of the disease worsening, a new study finds.
Even though males with prostate cancer that is not life-threatening can opt for active surveillance it is not advisable as doctors have no full-proof method to determine the progression of the disease. Researchers from Pontificia Universidad Católica may have found a solution to this problem.
They found that levels of testosterone in patients may be strong indicators of the disease's progression. The study was conducted over a period of 38 months on154 men with low-risk prostate cancer. Researchers found a strong link between low testosterone levels and aggressive progression of the disease. No such association was made between total testosterone concentrations and prostate cancer progression.
"These results suggest low levels of testosterone are associated with more aggressive prostate cancer. This contradicts long-held beliefs that high testosterone is risky for prostate cancer, and low testosterone is protective," said Dr. San Francisco.
Many people resort to testosterone supplements to up the levels of this steroid hormone. However, researchers of another study caution that men should first test their testosterone levels before opting for any kind of supplements. This can be done through a simple blood test, which should be conducted first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
"More than other hormones, testosterone goes up and down throughout the course of the day, and it's highest between 8 and 10 in the morning," Dr. Ronald Tamler, an endocrinologist and clinical director of the Mount Sinai Diabetes Center said, according to NPR. "What this means is you can give someone a 'false' low testosterone level if you measure it in the afternoon."
There are many reasons for low testosterone levels, the most common being obesity. Hence, overweight men may want to consider losing weight to deal with this problem. Other causes include diabetes and sleep apnea. One major consequence of low testosterone levels is the production of too many red blood cells, which can lead to deadly blood clots.
"The amount of red blood cells in circulation can go up very high, and that can mean the blood does not flow as smoothly as it should and that can give you troubles," Tamler said.
The new study was published in BJU International.
