Testosterone – is too much better than too little?

heart.jpgResearch findings released this week indicate that men should worry about low testosterone levels. It could be responsible for more than just mood swings and a low sex drive.

Low testosterone levels seem to be linked to a heightened risk of premature death from heart disease and all causes, suggests research published online in Heart journal.

This finding refutes previous research published on the subject, which had indicated that the hormone is a risk factor associated with cardiovascular disease.

The heart health of 930 men was tracked over 7 years, after each had been diagnosed with having coronary artery heart disease.

Low testosterone levels were fairly common in these men; one in four were also diagnosed as having clinically defined testosterone deficiency. This is known as hypogonadism and does not refer to men with declining levels of testosterone due to advancing age.

During the monitoring period almost twice as many men with low testosterone died as did those with normal levels. One in five (41) of those with low testosterone died, compared with one in eight (12%) of those with normal levels.

A clinically defined deficiency in testosterone was an independent risk factor for premature death from all causes and from heart disease, after taking account of other influential factors, such as age, other underlying health problems, smoking and weight

It was found that those men with a borderline- low level of testosterone were also at an increased risk of early death.

The authors have pointed out, while high doses of testosterone delivered by anabolic steroids are hazardous to the health, low rather than high testosterone levels are connected to a whole host of health problems, including obesity and insulin resistance – known risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

The authors of the study, based at Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, have concluded that men with hypogonadism (also at increased risk of the abovementioned conditions) could benefit from testosterone replacement.

A response to this study has highlighted the need for further research into the impact of testosterone on the health of both men and women. The impact or connection of testosterone levels on heart disease has largely taken a backseat, with researchers focusing on the impact of the female hormone Oestrogen until recently.

High testosterone has been linked to a variety of heath issues in women – including increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

If you would like to read more about the impact of low and high testosterone levels you can take a look at the recently released research, links below.

Research http://press.psprings.co.uk/heart/october/hrt195412.pdf
Editorial response http://press.psprings.co.uk/heart/october/hrt207068.pdf

UK women clear Aldi supermarket of new wrinkle cream

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London: A UK supermarket has had it shelves cleared of a new anti-wrinkle cream costing less than £2 ($1).

Aldi supermarket’s own label Siana Moisturising Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream at £1.89. Aldi’s own label anti-wrinkle cream is flying off the cut-price supermarket’s shelves after winning a host of awards.

The cream contains cell renewal vitamin Co Enzyme Q10 and beat the far more pricey products from top names such as Helena Rubenstein, Olay and Elemis, to be named one of the best anti-ageing products on the market.

UK magazine, Woman’s Own, which said it was ‘as good as the pricier products from well-known names’ and added: ‘Beauty industry tongues are wagging because it is so cheap and really works’.

Two thousand volunteers blind-tested the day cream for another magazine and voted it one of the most effective complexion smoothers. ‘I was asked if I’d had a facial,’ one enthused. ‘I think it must be expensive.’

At the beginning of the year, 890 jars a week were being sold nationwide at Aldi. Now more than 20,000 a week are being packed into trolleys, with dozens of branches selling out.

Manufacturers say the cream includes all the same ingredients as more expensive potions, including the enzyme Q10, which mimics the body’s ability to protect against premature aging.

Aldi’s cream follows the success of the £17 Boots No 7 Protect and Perfect Beauty Serum which was a sell-out last year.