The research team based their study on earlier research that determined normal ranges of testosterone but did not use cohorts that represent the current male population in the U.S. Therefore, the research team used a population sample that was much more reflective of the male population in the U.S. today. In their research, they used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to evaluate the extent of testosterone deficiency among men of all ages.
The research team only studied a total of 2,161 men in the survey, all of whom were 20 years old and older and had complete data on demographics and chronic disease diagnoses. The men also had blood samples for total testosterone, data on grip strength, and lab results for cardiometabolic disease risk factors.
The researchers looked at the prevalence of nine chronic diseases: Arthritis, cardiovascular disease, clinical depression, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, hypertension, pulmonary disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes. They categorized the participants according to their age – young, middle-aged, and older men – with and without testosterone deficiency and determined the prevalence of multimorbidity or the presence of two or more chronic conditions.
Results revealed that although low amounts of the male sex hormone testosterone were associated with multimorbidity in all age groups, it was more common among young and older men with testosterone deficiency. The researchers suggested that men should be wary of decreasing total testosterone levels because they observed "a large dose-response association between the age-specific low total testosterone and moderate total testosterone levels and multimorbidity," even when obesity and muscle strength capacity were considered. (Related: Low testosterone can lead to poor health and rapid aging in both men and women.)
"This study showed a robust association between testosterone and multiple medical morbidities that could influence the way we think about testosterone in general practice," said Aleksandr Belakovskiy of Michigan Medicine, co-author of the study. "While these findings cannot prove causation, it does spark the need for better clinical awareness and more research."
Natural treatments for low testosterone
Testosterone plays a key role in men's health. In addition to being linked with the risk of chronic diseases, low testosterone levels also affect sexual health and the preservation of muscle mass. Taking a simple blood test will help you determine if you are low on testosterone. The normal range of testosterone levels in healthy men is between 270 to 1,070 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). Fortunately, there are some natural remedies that may help increase testosterone levels. These include the following:
- Get a quality sleep – Lack of sleep has been found to significantly reduce the testosterone levels in a healthy young man, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Therefore, it is important to get enough and good quality sleep every night. Most adults generally need seven to nine hours of sleep each night to function well and be healthy.
- Maintain a healthy weight – If you are overweight or obese and have pre-diabetes, you are more likely to have low testosterone levels. Losing the extra weight can help boost testosterone, according to a study in the European Journal of Endocrinology.
- Eat foods rich in zinc – Zinc, according to studies, contributes to the regulation of serum testosterone levels in healthy men. Thus, you need to eat foods rich in zinc, such as oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, crab, lobster, and whole grains.
- Limit sugar intake – Sugar decreases testosterone levels in the blood by 25 percent, according to a report in the Endocrine Society.
- Exercise regularly – Exercise, especially resistance training, can help increase total testosterone levels. Exercising for at least 30 minutes daily will be helpful.
Read more news stories and studies on men's health by going to MensFitnessFocus.com.
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