Less likelihood of prostate cancer with low testosterone

The topic of testosterone is widely discussed amongst men. After all, testosterone plays an important role in the normal development of the male physique, sexual function and reproductive function.

However, some men suffer from low testosterone levels particularly as men age. While low testosterone levels are associated with low energy levels, low sex drive and reduced muscle strength, besides being linked to other health issues – there is an upside to having low levels of testosterone.

Male hormones or androgens such as testosterones are known for promoting tumour growth cell in men and lowering or blocking testosterone levels is usually the standard treatment for prostate cancer.

According to a new study from the University of Oxford, men with low levels of testosterone are less likely to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia affecting 16,665 new cancer patients in 2017. Out of this, there have been more than 3400 death in this year.

To this date, this is the largest study that links hormones to prostate cancer and the first study to link low levels of testosterone and the risk of prostate cancer.

For this study, the researchers examined individual participant cases from 20 perspective studies, including over 19,000 men out of which 6,933 were prostate cancer cases and 12, 088 were examined as health controls.

The participants were between the ages of 34 and 76 years and their blood was collected for analysis between 1954 and 2004.

The men were divided into 10 groups based on testosterone levels ranging from the highest levels to the lowest level of testosterone.

Prostate cancer risks were then calculated using logistic regression method.

It was found that men with low levels showed a reduced likelihood of 20 per cent of developing prostate cancer.

However, the study did find that if these men do develop prostate cancer, then there is 65 per cent likelihood that it will be an aggressive form of the cancer.

Male hormones or androgens such as testosterones are known for promoting tumour growth cell in men and lowering or blocking testosterone levels is usually the standard treatment for prostate cancer.

Until now the role of testosterone in the development of prostate cancer has been unclear and this study sheds new light on the disease and how it develops and progresses, and may help scientists find a way to treat and prevent prostate cancer before it can do harm to our body.

Source: National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference