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Low testosterone levels: what are the dangers?
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
Scientists have established a connection: low testosterone levels affect the early development of arthrosis, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes in men. Moreover, the listed diseases can manifest themselves even before the age of 40.
The study was conducted to examine the relationship between total testosterone, age category and the presence of chronic pathologies.
"We all know that as we age, we accumulate more and more diseases. We have determined that low testosterone levels, as well as excess weight, can trigger the early development of many pathologies," says Dr. Mark Peterson, a specialist in rehabilitation and physical medicine, representing the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor).
It has always been believed that testosterone is primarily responsible for the appearance of male sexual characteristics. However, this is not the only function of the hormone. Medicine has confirmed that testosterone maintains the healthy condition of arterial vessels and bones, prevents fat deposition. Thus, it is possible to predict in advance that a low level of the hormone can indirectly and negatively affect a man's health.
"Previous studies have shown that hormone synthesis decreases as the male body ages. We were interested in: what is the optimal amount of testosterone that should be present in a man's body at different ages to prevent the development of diseases?" says Professor Peterson.
Scientists initiated a nationwide experiment, which was conducted in the United States. The project involved more than two thousand male participants over the age of 19. Participants had to provide sufficiently complete information about themselves regarding age, social status, lifestyle and health. Specialists recorded any problems in the body and complaints about well-being, and also additionally collected material for a biomarker of the cardiovascular system and metabolism.
It turned out that low testosterone levels were associated with the development of arthrosis, depression, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, strokes and heart attacks, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obstructive pulmonary diseases. Scientists found that people with the listed diseases were predominantly men who had low levels of the hormone.
"We have established a strong dependent relationship between the total amount of testosterone and morbidity. This suggests the following: the lower the amount of hormone in the blood, the higher the risk of developing secondary pathology," explained Dr. Peterson.
The specialists also determined the critical level of total testosterone - less than 300 ng / dl, or 10.4 nmol / liter.
Experts note that such scientific works cannot serve as proof of a cause-and-effect relationship between the amount of testosterone and the development of pathologies. Therefore, the results of the study are only a reason to conduct further tests: first laboratory, and then clinical. However, it is worth listening to the conclusions of scientists: control of testosterone levels is an important preventive measure for any man.
The results of the study were published in Scientific Reports.
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