Androgen deficiency might cause diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine believe that androgen deficiency might be the underlying cause for a variety of common clinical conditions, including diabetes, erectile dysfunction, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.

Androgens, such as testosterone, are a steroid hormone that supports the development and maintenance of male characteristics. In a number of studies, androgen deficiency has been linked to an increased mortality in men. However, according to this recent study, the therapeutic role of testosterone in men’s health remains a hotly debated issue for a number of reasons, including the risk of prostate cancer.

These findings appear in the September/October issue of the Journal of Andrology.