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09/18/09
A great deal of middle-aged or older men tend to blame a low testosterone level on a number of symptoms—reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass and strength, depleted energy, depression, decreased bone density and osteoporosis. But as a solution to their testosterone deficiency are tempted to try a quick fix with a “testosterone booster” supplement.
While the drop in testosterone that takes place as men get older may contribute to some of these problems, many doctors believe that most of them are caused by other changes—from thyroid problems to real-life events such as job loss—that have little to do with testosterone, often times negating the necessity of a “testosterone booster”.
The average testosterone level in a man of 30 is about 600ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter), and it declines gradually as he gets older. At age 80, the average reading is around 400ng. But these numbers tend to vary as some men have more, some less.
Testosterone can be low in younger men too—if they have a congenital disorder, for example, or after radiation therapy to the pelvis or testes. Such individuals respond well to a supplemental testosterone booster. A very low level at any age may result in a chronic lack of energy, muscle weakness, depression and poor sexual function.
However, giving a testosterone booster to all middle-aged men who want to feel younger and more vital is not necessarily a good idea: The testosterone booster may increase the risk of prostate cancer, thicken the blood, and cause insomnia and sleep apnea. Studies are under way to determine whether doing so makes a significant difference if the man’s levels are still within the “normal” range.
When should you consider testosterone booster? Here’s what I suggest: If you have symptoms you suspect are due to low testosterone, have a blood test to determine both your total and “free” testosterone levels. Free testosterone (not bound to a protein) is important because it is the most active and bio-available form of the hormone.
If your early-morning total testosterone level is repeatedly below 200ng/dL (you’ll need several readings), as is the case in about 20% of men 60 or older, then you should receive enough supplement to raise it to between 300 and 450. You probably will feel better if, in addition, the free testosterone is about 2% of the total. These guidelines apply to men at any age in regards to using a testosterone booster.
A testosterone booster supplement can be delivered through the skin by a patch or gel, or through the ingestion of an oral tablet or capsule (the most commonly used method). However, before receiving any such testosterone booster, be sure to have both a digital rectal exam of the prostate gland and a blood test for your PSA level. If your PSA is more than 4ng/dL or has risen by more than 1ng/dL in the past year, testosterone booster supplements may not be safe.
The Institute of Medicine, which advises the nation on health matters, reviewed all the studies on testosterone booster supplementation. Its recommendation is that testosterone booster supplements should not be used to relieve the physical or psychological effects of aging unless testing reveals a significant deficiency.
