Vitamin D Status Determines Cardiometabolic Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Men with Late-Onset Hypogonadism

AI Overview

While some studies suggest a link between vitamin D and testosterone levels in men, with vitamin D supplementation potentially increasing testosterone, other research indicates no significant effect, and more studies are needed to fully understand this relationship.

Here's a more detailed look at the research:
Potential Benefits of Vitamin D for Testosterone:

• • Observational studies:
    Some studies suggest a positive association between higher vitamin D levels and higher testosterone levels.
    
  • Vitamin D receptors:
    The male reproductive system, including the testes, expresses vitamin D receptors, suggesting a potential role for vitamin D in male reproductive function.
    
  • Supplementation studies:
    Some studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation in men, particularly those with low vitamin D levels, can lead to an increase in total testosterone.
    
  • Example:
    A study found that men who took 3,300 IU of vitamin D daily increased their testosterone levels by 20% over those who didn't.
    

Mixed Results and Further Research Needed:

• • Not all studies show a positive effect:
    Some studies have found no significant effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels, especially in men with normal testosterone levels.
    
  • Short-term, low-dose supplementation:
    Short-term, low-dose supplementation in vitamin D-deficient men may not increase testosterone in men with suboptimal levels.
    
  • More research is needed:
    The relationship between vitamin D and testosterone is complex, and more research is needed to fully understand the effects of vitamin D on testosterone levels and male reproductive health.
    
  • Considerations:
    It's important to note that excessive vitamin D intake can be harmful, so it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before taking vitamin D supplements.
    

Other Factors Affecting Testosterone:

• • Age: Testosterone levels naturally decline with age.
    
  • Obesity: Obesity is associated with lower testosterone levels.
    
  • Chronic diseases: Chronic diseases, such as kidney disease, diabetes, lung disease, and cirrhosis, can also lead to drops in testosterone.
    
  • Lifestyle: Lifestyle factors, such as diet, exercise, and stress, can also play a role in testosterone levels.

Vince said:

AI Overview

While some studies suggest a link between vitamin D and testosterone levels in men, with vitamin D supplementation potentially increasing testosterone, other research indicates no significant effect, and more studies are needed to fully understand this relationship.

Here's a more detailed look at the research:
Potential Benefits of Vitamin D for Testosterone:

• • Observational studies:
    Some studies suggest a positive association between higher vitamin D levels and higher testosterone levels.
  • Vitamin D receptors:
    The male reproductive system, including the testes, expresses vitamin D receptors, suggesting a potential role for vitamin D in male reproductive function.
  • Supplementation studies:
    Some studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation in men, particularly those with low vitamin D levels, can lead to an increase in total testosterone.
  • Example:
    A study found that men who took 3,300 IU of vitamin D daily increased their testosterone levels by 20% over those who didn't.

Mixed Results and Further Research Needed:

• • Not all studies show a positive effect:
    Some studies have found no significant effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels, especially in men with normal testosterone levels.
  • Short-term, low-dose supplementation:
    Short-term, low-dose supplementation in vitamin D-deficient men may not increase testosterone in men with suboptimal levels.
  • More research is needed:
    The relationship between vitamin D and testosterone is complex, and more research is needed to fully understand the effects of vitamin D on testosterone levels and male reproductive health.
  • Considerations:
    It's important to note that excessive vitamin D intake can be harmful, so it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before taking vitamin D supplements.

Other Factors Affecting Testosterone:

• • Age: Testosterone levels naturally decline with age.
  • Obesity: Obesity is associated with lower testosterone levels.
  • Chronic diseases: Chronic diseases, such as kidney disease, diabetes, lung disease, and cirrhosis, can also lead to drops in testosterone.
  • Lifestyle: Lifestyle factors, such as diet, exercise, and stress, can also play a role in testosterone levels.

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The study above though is relating to people on trt - a reduction in LDL levels in those on trt only with higher vit d levels was one finding

seppuku said:

The study above though is relating to people on trt - a reduction in LDL levels in those on trt only with higher vit d levels was one finding

Click to expand...

Conclusions​

In case of coexisting untreated vitamin D insufficiency, men with LOH were characterized by increased values of some cardiometabolic risk factors, including hsCRP, homocysteine, fibrinogen, and UACR. Low vitamin D status, unless effectively treated, attenuated the impact of testosterone substitution on most assessed outcome measures. However, testosterone effects were preserved if low vitamin D status was effectively supplemented. The replacement-induced decrease in uric acid, LDL cholesterol, hsCRP, homocysteine, fibrinogen, and UACR positively correlated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations. The obtained results suggest that even discrete abnormalities in calciferol homeostasis may impair the cardiometabolic response to testosterone replacement therapy in men with LOH. Thus, our findings shed a new light on the association between androgen and vitamin D status in middle-aged or elderly men. They should encourage performing a larger, well-designed multicenter clinical study that would overcome important limitations of the current pilot study.

LOH stands for Loss of Heterozygosity. It's a phenomenon where one copy of a gene and its surrounding chromosomal region is lost in a cell, essentially reducing the number of gene copies available to the cell. This can lead to increased risk of certain genetic disorders, including cancer, if the lost gene is a tumor suppressor

Immune function alone suggests everyone should have a vitamin D level over 50, so other benefits are a nice bonus.