Low testosterone linked to 18% higher risk of dying from cancer
The link was strongest for some cancers, and prostate cancer was not tied to testosterone levels in the study.
A large international study found that men with very low testosterone levels had an 18 percent higher risk of dying from cancer. The findings suggest testosterone could serve as an early warning sign, possibly years or decades before a cancer diagnosis.
The research was led by Professor Bu Yeap of The University of Western Australia as part of the Androgens In Men Study. Published in Lancet Healthy Longevity, it analyzed data from more than 26,000 men in 11 long-running studies across Australia, the United States, and Europe. Researchers measured hormone levels in blood samples taken earlier in life and compared them with later cancer diagnoses and deaths.
The risk was not the same for every cancer type. Testosterone was not linked to prostate cancer, which instead tracked more closely with low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin and luteinizing hormone. Researchers found that cancer risk began rising when baseline testosterone fell below 8.6 nanomoles per liter. Yeap said body mass index, physical activity and conditions such as diabetes can affect testosterone levels.
Key points
- Men with very low testosterone had an 18% higher risk of dying from cancer.
- Prostate cancer was not linked to testosterone but to SHBG and luteinizing hormone.
- The study covered more than 26,000 men across Australia, the U.S., and Europe.
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Summarized with AI from the sources above and reviewed before publishing.
