Some large studies suggest that testosterone therapy does not increase major heart risks in most men when it is used carefully and with monitoring. The evidence suggests that testosterone therapy does affect cholesterol, especially HDL, but the overall impact on heart disease is still being studied. Even though testosterone therapy can shift cholesterol levels, lifestyle habits often have a stronger influence. In contrast, a man who uses testosterone therapy while following a healthy lifestyle often sees improved energy, leaner body composition, and a healthier cholesterol profile. For men on testosterone therapy, keeping alcohol intake low or moderate is safest for cholesterol and heart health. This combination often results in lower cholesterol levels, better blood sugar control, and improved heart health.
For example, observational studies that included thousands of men found no clear increase in heart attack or stroke rates among men on TRT. Another small trial in 2010 also showed more cardiovascular events in men receiving testosterone gel. This made headlines and created fear that TRT could raise cardiovascular risk. Some of the first studies that got public attention suggested TRT might be harmful for the heart.
Multiple cross-sectional studies have examined the association between endogenous T levels and the presence of coronary artery disease. In this article, we review newly published studies evaluating TRT in older men and explore alterations in circulating lipids as one possible mechanism whereby T might influence CVD risk. In lieu of such data, small randomized trials to date have been performed that evaluate CVD risk factors rather than events as study endpoints, and these demonstrate mixed effects of TRT. In this article, we review current literature in an attempt to better understand what it suggests is the true relationship between testosterone and cardiovascular disease.
Having high triglycerides, however, is not good for health. Later, hormones release them to give you energy between meals. After you eat, your body turns extra calories into triglycerides and stores them in fat cells.
However, interpretation of these data is complicated by nature of their retrospective design and complexities in determining subject behavior within a population, and hence, do not allow for conclusions regarding causality. In contrast to the cross-sectional studies mentioned above, these studies have attempted to analyze large populations of men who received exogenous T, presumably as TRT. Nonetheless, the results of the TOM trial provide important cautionary information regarding the potential for TRT to be harmful in at least some populations of older men and points to the need for larger studies. Importantly, the interpretive value of these randomized controlled trials remains limited, as these studies were not powered to look at CVD events as an outcome. Therefore, the higher rate of cardiovascular events noted in the TOM trial might be attributable to a poorer baseline cardiometabolic profile among the participants.

Gender: Female

Social links