“Our research highlights that GLP-1 therapies could not solely assist with weight and glucose management, but additionally enhance testosterone ranges in males with weight problems or diabetes — a gaggle at excessive threat for hypogonadism,” the medical time period for low T, says the lead researcher, Shellsea Portillo Canales, MD, an endocrinology fellow at SSM Well being St. Louis College Hospital.
“This expands the identified advantages of GLP-1s into the area of reproductive and hormonal well being, displaying potential for bettering high quality of life,” Dr. Portillo Canales says.
Testosterone Rose After Individuals Took GLP-1s
For the research, introduced lately on the annual assembly of the Endocrine Society in San Francisco, Portillo Canales and her staff analyzed the digital well being data of 110 grownup males with weight problems or sort 2 diabetes. Simply over half the members, who had been 54 years outdated on common, had testosterone ranges beneath regular initially of the research.
All members had been taking a weight reduction remedy: semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy), dulaglutide (Trulicity), or tirzepatide (Zepbound or Mounjaro). The bulk (almost 70 %) had been taking a semaglutide drug. None had been receiving testosterone or hormone remedy.
The analysis staff recorded members’ weight and testosterone ranges earlier than they started taking weight reduction medication after which over the course of 18 months.
On the finish of the research interval, members misplaced about 10 % of their physique weight on common — going from 256 to 229 kilos, a lack of roughly 25 kilos.
Together with the ten % weight reduction, the proportion of males with regular ranges of each complete and free testosterone elevated from 53 % to 77 % — which means the variety of males with low T dropped from a few half to below 1 / 4.
Portillo Canales says the will increase in free testosterone are particularly essential as a result of free T supplies a clearer image than complete T of the true hormonal standing throughout totally different weight states.
One limitation of the research is that it was a retrospective evaluation, which means it was based mostly on current medical data quite than outcomes from a randomized medical trial.
How Does Weight Loss Enhance Testosterone Ranges?
The brand new outcomes add to rising proof that GLP-1s can have a constructive affect on testosterone ranges for males, says Arthi Thirumalai, MBBS, a medical researcher who focuses on male copy and metabolic well being on the College of Washington and the pinnacle of endocrinology at Harborview Medical Heart in Seattle.
The first driver of hormonal enchancment is weight reduction, not the medication themselves, says Dr. Thirumalai, who was not concerned within the analysis.
It’s not completely clear why weight problems can result in low T, says Thirumalai. One principle is that fats cells are inclined to convert testosterone to estrogen and cut back the quantity of obtainable testosterone, she says. Males with weight problems may additionally have decrease ranges of a protein that carries testosterone within the bloodstream, known as intercourse hormone–binding globulin (SHGB). With much less of this protein, there’s much less testosterone accessible for the physique to make use of.
“Additionally, irritation in fats cells causes a launch of chemical substances that may have an effect on testosterone manufacturing,” says Thirumalai.
Why Is It Essential to Preserve Regular Testosterone Ranges?
“Bettering testosterone can improve high quality of life and probably cut back well being dangers related to low ranges,” says Portillo Canales. She says her staff didn’t have a look at these elements within the present research, however they need to be examined in future trials.
The underside line is that GLP-1 therapies could enhance testosterone to regular ranges naturally, in accordance with Portillo Canales.
“Males with low T resulting from weight problems could profit while not having testosterone alternative, however care needs to be individualized,” she says.
