Low Testosterone? Maybe It’s Your Lifestyle

Testosterone concentrations in men normally decline with age, and people are turning more frequently towards replacement therapy in trying to postpone age-related changes. Before rushing to find the latest tablet, gel, or injection, men might look at their lifestyle. The Massachusetts Male Aging Study has been used to show that a Body Mass Index (BMI) increase of only 4 to 5 points has the same effect on testosterone levels as 10 years of aging.

The scientists are at a loss to fully explain the findings. Apart from obesity (which decreases testosterone), there’s the possibility that the fairly marked decrease in smoking may play a role in accelerating the age-related fall in testosterone levels. This theory is two-edged; in order to increase (or rather, delay the age-related decline) one would have to maintain a normal or low BMI, but also take up cigarette smoking!

The best thing to do is just ignore the reported changes, until the scientists come up with a fuller reason for it. There are plenty of other things to worry about, these days. And, as we know, testosterone replacement is only helpful in well-defined conditions.