Men have raised questions in the past about the cardiovascular effects of testosterone. Two studies published this week offered conflicting answers. As a result, men are left still wondering whether testosterone replacement therapy actually increases their risk of heart attacks.
Testosterone and Coronary Artery Plaque:
One of the studies was part of the T Trials. It included 138 men who had been diagnosed with low testosterone. They went through coronary plaque imaging by CT at the start of the study and after one year. Coronary calcification scores were also calculated at both times.
Men taking testosterone had a greater increase in plaque volume than those on placebo. On the other hand, their calcification score dropped. These results raise concern, but are not enough of themselves to tell whether men taking testosterone are at greater risk of heart attacks, strokes or other cardiovascular mishaps.
Testosterone and the Risk of Heart Attacks:
The other study followed more than 40,000 middle-aged men for three to four years. All had low testosterone at the outset and all were members of Kaiser Permanente California. Almost 9,000 of the men were treated with testosterone. The others served as controls.
Testosterone replacement therapy was associated with fewer cardiovascular events. That meant the men using testosterone had a reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes, unstable angina or death. The results of this observational study contradict warnings from the Food and Drug Administration that testosterone could increase the risk of heart disease.
Budoff et al, JAMA, Feb. 21, 2017
Cheetham et al, JAMA Internal Medicine, online Feb. 21, 2017
