Low testosterone linked to an 18% higher risk of cancer death

Men with very low testosterone levels may face an increased risk of developing cancer and dying from the disease later in life, according to a major international study. The findings suggest that testosterone levels could provide an early clue to future health risks, potentially years or even decades before cancer is diagnosed. The research comes from the Androgens In Men Study (AIMS), an international collaboration led by Professor Bu Yeap at The University of Western Australia. The study examined data from more than 26,000 men participating in 11 long-running studies across Australia, the United States, and Europe.

Testosterone and Cancer Risk

Researchers found that men with low testosterone had an 18 percent higher risk of dying from cancer. However, the relationship was not the same for every type of cancer. Surprisingly, testosterone levels were not associated with prostate cancer risk. Instead, prostate cancer was more closely linked to low levels of two other hormones, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and luteinizing hormone. The analysis included testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), SHBG, and luteinizing hormone. Luteinizing hormone is produced by the pituitary gland and signals the testes to produce testosterone.

Key Findings and Implications

The researchers identified a testosterone concentration below which cancer risk began to rise. According to Professor Yeap, testosterone levels in healthy younger men typically range from 10 to 30 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L), although concentrations generally decrease with age. They found that when baseline testosterone was below 8.6 nmol/L, subsequent cancer risk started increasing. These findings raise the possibility that testosterone measurements could help doctors recognize men who may face greater health risks in the future. However, the results show an association and do not establish that low testosterone itself causes cancer.