Posted on 11/10/2020 5:30:23 PM PST by billorites
The decline in total testosterone was observed even among men with normal body mass index.
From 1999 to 2016, testosterone levels have declined in adolescent and young adult men (AYA), according to results presented at the 2020 American Urological Association Virtual Experience1.
“Overall male testosterone decline can be attributed to multiple etiologies. The United States has an aging population with older males exhibiting lower testosterone levels. Furthermore, overall population has an increase in comorbidities, including diabetes, which may have cause this testosterone decrease nationally,” Soum Lokeshwar, MD, MBA, incoming urology resident at Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, said during a press briefing.
“However, most of these explanations for testosterone deficiency may be attributed to age. This time-dependent decline in testosterone has not been investigated in adolescent and young adult males,” added Lokeshwar, who was at the University Of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, at the time of the study.
Testosterone deficiency has a prevalence of 10%-40% among adult males, and 20% among AYA men aged 15-39 years, he added. Therefore, Lokeshwar and colleagues hypothesized that serum total testosterone levels will decline in AYA men.
The investigators used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 1999 to 2016 to analyze serum testosterone level changes over time in 4045 AYA males. During the study periods, 3 different assays (Biotin-Streptavidin from 1999-2004, IS-Liquid Chromatography from 2011-2012, and High-Performance-Liquid-Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry from 2013 onwards) were used. However, of note, they demonstrate comparable testosterone values with only some additional accuracy in the latest modality, Lokeshwar said.
After controlling for confounders—including year of study, age, race, BMI, comorbidity status, alcohol and smoking use, and level of physical activity—total testosterone was lower among men in the later (2011-2016) versus earlier (1999-2000) cycles (P < 0.001). Mean total testosterone decreased from 1999-2000 (605.39 ng/dL), 2003-2004 (567.44 ng/dL), 2011-2012 (424.96 ng/dL), 2013-2014 (431.76 ng/dL), and 2015-2016 (451.22 ng/dL; all P < .0001).
Elevated BMI was associated with reduced total testosterone levels (P < .0001), with the mean BMI increasing from 25.83 in 1999-2000, to 27.96 in 2015-2016 (P = 0.0006). Lokeshwar noted that even men with a normal BMI (18.5-24.9) had declining total testosterone levels (P < .05) during the same time frames.
Potential causes include increased obesity/BMI, assay variations
According to Lokeshwar, potential causes for these declines could be increased obesity/BMI, assay variations, diet/phytoestrogens, declined exercise and physical activity, fat percentage, marijuana use, and environmental toxins.
“We’ve seen that lower values of testosterone have been associated with increased comorbidities and an increase risk for all-cause mortality. This decline specifically, in these young adult men, with increased obesity may lead to an increase in precocious cancer,” Lokeshwar said, adding such decreases can also result in a lower libido and an increased risk for erectile dysfunction.
“This is especially worrisome in this young adult age group, as many men feel stigma and are less likely to seek care for these low libido and erectile dysfunction.” Lokeshwar added. “Testosterone levels in AYA men are used as the benchmark normal levels for testosterone. This is very scary, because generally, when we think of normal values of testosterone, we treat based upon this age group. This may ultimately lead to the undertreatment of testosterone deficiency, which can have large ramifications and severe consequences.”
Actually, research has long shown that sexual intercourse increases testosterone levels. Masturbation has no such effect. Pornography has replaced relationships for a large number of males, with the advent of free internet video porn especially addicting.
Soy is among the >2 dozen “foods” I have on my blacklist.
It’s a staple of processed, fast and restaurant foods.
“ITYS” to all the soyboys comes to mind. That drum got beat to death years ago. But quitting soy alone (which isn’t easy) won’t collectively change a damned thing...
They are all just pussies these days.
!Change my mind!
Yeah, those guys are fags.
Without apologies because I call them like I see them - I see nothing in that picture but bottom-boys with pubic hair over their cock-holsters.
Helicopter moms won’t let them play outside. I saw it multiple times when my kids were young. Dirt is evil. Now, they have poofter for sons.
Too much Coldplay?
The death of Sean Connery dropped the average by 1 or 2 percentage points.
I’m 73. I noticed “something was up” about four months after going keto/carnivore, a couple years ago.
I had the doc check my T, and it was 521, a good number for a guy half my age.
Haha!
Don’t forget high fructose corn syrup in almost every food
Damn! That picture just blew a fuse in my gaydar!
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