Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, sometimes called the Vampire Facelift, has been creating waves in the media and beauty industry in the past few years, primarily because of the prolific number of celebrities trying the treatment, including Kim Kardashian….
A study published in the European Heart Journal on August 6th, 2015, has shed new light on the highly debated topic of testosterone and heart health. The new study, written by Dr. Rajat Barua and conducted using the Veterans Affairs database, has found that men partaking in testosterone therapy had a lower risk of hearts attack and stroke. The study was conducted over a lengthy period of time, with over 83,000 patients.
The successful study follows years of studies with mixed results. In the past, studies have been unsuccessful in finding an evident link between testosterone treatments and heart health. This has lead to discussions about testosterone therapy’s benefits and risks. The lack of a successful studies has proven difficult for the medical community in terms of guidance. However, that hasn’t stopped the Food and Drug Administration from guiding medical professionals. In 2015, the FDA suggested that medical professionals be weary of testosterone levels during therapy, stating that too much could possibly lead to a threat of heart attack or stroke.
With this study, information from VA patients all over the country was looked at. Patients were all above the age of 50. The study also excluded men who had suffered heart attacks and strokes in the past, but included those with existing heart conditions. All men had low testosterone levels, making them eligible for therapy.
The patients were separated into three groups. One group consisted of men who were to be treated so that their testosterone returned to a healthy level. Another group received testosterone therapy, but their levels did not return to normal. The final group did not receive any form of testosterone therapy and saw no improvement on levels. Patients were also matched with other patients in a different group. They were matched based on a number of factors, including age, BMI, illnesses, and use of medication. This allowed researchers to make comparisons of patients with similar health profiles.
What sets this study apart from others is its longevity. Many past studies about testosterone and hearth health didn’t follow up with patients for a prolonged period of time, which lead to inconclusive results. This study followed patients between 4.6 to 6.2 years, providing adequate information about the true health effects of testosterone therapy over the various groups.
The most extreme results came from the group that was treated with testosterone and returned to normal levels. When compared to the second group that was treated but did not return to normal levels, the first treated group was 56 percent less likely to die during the monitoring period following therapy. They were also 24 percent less likely to experience a heart attack and 36 percent less likely to experience a stroke.
The second group that received treatment but did not return to normal levels had results that weren’t as noticeable. The findings were similar to the first group, but less extreme. The difference between the second treated group and the final group that didn’t receive treatment was minimal. The only difference was that the group that received some treatment had a slightly higher chance of survival.
While the study did show positive results, it is not known how testosterone actually helps the heart. Dr. Barua states that further research is needed. One noteworthy discovery of the testosterone and heart health study is that the right dosage of testosterone is critical. It showed that the dosage must be high enough to restore levels back to normal to be effective. Medical professionals should provide calculated dosages to patients.
