Testosterone and heart health: associations and treatment evidence answer different questions
A narrative review separates links with naturally occurring testosterone from trial findings about testosterone treatment and cardiovascular outcomes.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Lower naturally occurring testosterone was linked to higher mortality in some studies, but cardiovascular findings were not uniform. A major treatment trial found no increase in major cardiovascular events during its reported follow-up. This does not establish a cardiovascular benefit from treatment or settle its safety over longer periods.
The abstract provides no numerical cardiovascular treatment estimate or confidence interval. Its populations and study designs differ, and the authors call for additional evidence on longer-term cardiovascular safety.
What researchers found
Major adverse cardiovascular events
Testosterone versus placebo in TRAVERSE, among men with cardiovascular disease or multiple risk factors; average follow-up was 3 years.
Observational results were mixed
In the large prospective cohort described, lower testosterone was associated with higher all-cause mortality, but not new cardiovascular events or cardiovascular deaths. Such observational links cannot establish that testosterone levels caused those outcomes.
A separate metabolic outcome
Another placebo-controlled trial studied men with abnormal blood sugar who also received a lifestyle intervention. Testosterone reduced type 2 diabetes risk in that setting; this separate metabolic outcome does not demonstrate prevention of cardiovascular events.
The original publication
Endogenous Testosterone, Testosterone Treatment, and Cardiovascular Health Outcomes in Men.
Yeap BB, Anawalt BD
J Clin Endocrinol Metab · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41223023
- Record checked
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