M (20)

14 MUSCLE & FITNESS JUNE 2016

Diminished testosterone levels

can impact your life inside and

outside of the gym.BY DR VICTOR PRISK

JASMINKO IBRAKOVIC/ALAMY

THELOWDOWNONLOWT

IT’SACOMMON

PROBLEM

Around 20 percent of

menaged50orover

have either low levels

of testosterone in

their blood or exhibit

symptoms of T

deficiency.

LOTS OF MEN

SELF-DIAGNOSE

The journal JAMA

Internal Medicine

reported that 25

percentofmen taking

T supps didn’t have

their levels tested

beforehand.

HABITS COULD

BE TO BLAME

Tobacco use, alcohol

consumption and

taking certain

prescription meds may

all have the potential

to reduce testosterone

production.

IF YOU’RE FEELING WEAKER,
aching more or are looking flabbier
despiteyourbesteffortsinthegym
and kitchen, consider asking your
doctor about having your testosterone
levels checked. Production of anabolic
hormones like testosterone and
growth hormone naturally slow with
age, at times resulting in andropause
–aka“malemenopause”–whichcan
lead to things like erectile dysfunction
and tendinopathy. Scrotum injuries,
prostatitis or other infections, wearing
tight undies, riding a bike, pituitary
or hypothalamus dysfunction, stress
and diets too low in carbohydrates
or fats or too high in sugar can all
affect testicular function.
Registering low-normal T levels –
within the normal range of greater
than 300 nanograms per decilitre
(ng/dl) – may still put you at higher risk

for metabolic syndrome, depression,

cognitive decline and heart disease.

Treating low testosterone might

consist of stimulating the pituitary

or gonads with a combo of human

chorionic gonadotropin (HCG,

which encourages testosterone

production) and anti-oestrogen

drugs, like clomiphene citrate.

Other treatments include testosterone

prescribed in the form of gels, creams,

injections, tablets, implants or patches.

To support normal T levels, avoid

overtraining, get enough rest and

eat clean. High-intensity training that

involves large muscle groups, such as

the squat, deadlift and bench press,

can further boost testosterone levels.

Low

test

score

EDGE HORMONES