Low testosterone linked to diabetes

[ZECH]

http://www.netrition.com/cgi/news.cgi?file=20041130164500_0


BUFFALO, N.Y., Nov 30, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- One out of three men with type 2 diabetes are at a risk of having diminished production of testosterone, a study released Tuesday said.

"This starts a whole new story on the crucial complications of type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Paresh Dandona, senior author on the study and director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University at Buffalo and Kaleida Health, where the study was conducted.

Results of the study show the condition, known clinically as hypogonadism, is caused not by a defect in the testes, where testosterone is produced, but by improper functioning of the pituitary gland, which controls production of testosterone, or of the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that controls the pituitary.

The high prevalence of low testosterone in diabetic men is concerning, researchers said, because in addition to lowered libido and erectile dysfunction, the condition is associated with loss of muscle tone, increase in abdominal fat, loss of bone density, and can affect mood and cognition.

Results of the study appear in the November issue of Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Copyright: Copyright 2004 by United Press International.

 

[bandaidwoman]

It is somewhat misleading. It does not suggest low testosterone led to type II diabetes. It only means an association, not a cause and effect.

Let's also not forget that most type II diabetics are obese and have extra fat or adipose tissue which are sources of estrogen. I believe the low testosterone is a sign of the down regulation of the hypothalamus by this extra estrogen from the adipose tissue as well as that which might occur with the extra insulin these type II diabetics secrete (remember, they have insulin resistance rather than insulin production failure early in the disease).

Here is a link discussing estrogen production by fat cells (via aromatase enzymes) http://www.usmeditherm.com/research_estrogen.htm

 

[Dale Mabry]

It is somewhat misleading. It does not suggest low testosterone led to type II diabetes. It only means an association, not a cause and effect.

Let's also not forget that most type II diabetics are obese and have extra fat or adipose tissue which are sources of estrogen. I believe the low testosterone is a sign of the down regulation of the hypothalamus by this extra estrogen from the adipose tissue as well as that which might occur with the extra insulin these type II diabetics secrete (remember, they have insulin resistance rather than insulin production failure early in the disease).

Here is a link discussing estrogen production by fat cells (via aromatase enzymes) http://www.usmeditherm.com/research_estrogen.htm

Beat me to it. Plus, 33% is not a very high number if age is factored in, it just shows how complicated all this syndrome X BS. This syndrome X that a majority of the population is giving itself will prove far more difficult to cure than aids considering how many things are associated with it. Let me rephrase that, it is going to be harder to cure than AIDS for the simple fact that people will wait for a pill rather than diet.

 

[DrChiro]

I hate how things like diabetes II are labeled as diseases. it lets people have the mindset that somehow they are innocent victims who cought this disease and they must await a cure from the drug companies.

sure there are exceptions to every rule....but maybe if it were presented to them as "hey...you have eaten so much shit in your lifetime that you screwed up your body's ability to deal with sugar...you can fix it by eliminating the crap that made you this way...much like an alcoholic must stop drinking in order to have any hope of recovery. There is no pill for your addiction...the choice is yours."

on the other hand...people are generally so stupid, lazy, and unwilling to take responsibility for there actions that this type of approach probably wouldn't work...but it's a nice thought.

 

[Vieope]

Babe, give me some sugar!

 

[samat631]

me being a type 1 diabetic enjoy such products like tribex for this reason. they seem to work good on me. so if testosterone is responsible for good erections, does that mean that those guys who inject high doses of test and other steroids are having mega erections. my friend does alot of steroids but cycles and he has alot of sex

 

[hardasnails1973]

Simple answer ZINC deficiency is probably the link between the 2 but some drs are too lazy to look to these simple links and just stick you on drugs.

cross reference zinc low testosterone , zinc diabetes
If you want clinical studies I will be glad to provide you with them. This is what I do everyday research cases that drs do not want to deal with and cannot help. I was one of those people. Body is an intricate piece of machine if some of the pieces are missing in enzymatic reaction or nutrients as cofactors then offcourse you are going to have major problems. Even subclinical deficeincy in zinc (responsible or 300 reactions in body) of course things are going to get messed up. But its always black and white with drs and need to look in the gray areas. I suggest every one had a baseline blood test when you are perfectly healthy and then if something goes wrong you have a basis to fall back on and drs may be to find a trend. Any deviation from normal should be cause for further investigation.

http://www.healing-arts.org/mehl-madrona/mmzinc.htm

One supplement that should be considered absolutely essential for maintaining a man???s testosterone levels is zinc. This busy mineral is involved in almost every aspect of male reproduction, including testosterone metabolism, sperm formation, and sperm motility. Multiple studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of zinc in treating male infertility due to low testosterone levels.26,27 A prime example of the usefulness of zinc was illustrated in a study of 37 infertile men with decreased testosterone levels and associated low sperm counts.28 The men were given 60 mg of zinc daily for 45-50 days. In 22 patients, testosterone levels significantly increased and mean sperm count rose from 8 million to 20 million

 

[bandaidwoman]

Here is a good article written by an MD about testosterone and even mentions the zinc linkage as hardasnails mentions. He provides good references. Many internists now have these zinc assays run routinely (at least in Georgia)

http://www.currentpsychiatry.com/2004_05/0504_Geracioti_testos.asp


Just be careful, because over supplementation with zinc also causes zinc toxicity, which is also becoming more common place as more people self supplement with zinc.

It (oversupplementation) has deliterious effects on iron and copper status in the body http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=6829560 (It can cause hypochromic microcytic anemia)


(And by the way, medicine is never black and white to most doctors, it's always many shades of gray, unfortunately, an infinate shade of gray, which is what makes it so exciting and so frustrating at the same time...it can never be mastered. And let's not forget it is these very doctors conducting the clinical or laboratory trials that are referenced)

But once again, the low testosterone can still be the downregulation by the extra estrogen released by a Type II diabetic's extra adipose tissue . Clinical trials measuring zinc would be needed to answer the question.

The trial you referenced also mentioned that there was a subset of diabetics whose sugars increased with the Zinc supplementation. The clinical trials associating zinc deficiency and diabetes have been contradictory. Some suggested a link and some showed no correllation (or increased zinc levels in diabetics) That association still needs further clinical /laboratory trials.

http://int-pediatrics.org/newip/volumes/16,2,3,4/16-3/review/kaji/zincinendo.htm

While several studies observed that plasma zinc levels were lower in diabetic patients than in control subjects,55,59 others showed there were no significant differences between them.56 With respect to specific diabetes-associated complications, there were no significant differences in plasma zinc concentrations nor erythrocyte copper-zinc superoxide dismutase activities between diabetic patients with retinopathy, hypertension or microvascular disease and those without any complications.55 ...



The role of zinc in the clinical management of diabetes, its complication, or its prevention is unclear.57 Although there have been some trials of zinc supplementation to diabetic patients expecting the amelioration of the disease, they have not been successful.56,59

Very interesting though and am glad further research is underway.

 

[hardasnails1973]

i have been suffering from a what was thought was a iron deficiency, but further investigation proved it to be a zinc deficiency from stopping red meat and swithcing more to a fish and chicken diet. Plus my main stable of carb was oatmeal which I took with my muiltivitamin every morning and here I found out that fiber and phylates from oatmeal reduce absorption of zinc couple this with more white meat diet and veggies as well as caffine, and green tea you are looking at disaster. I wil never drop red meat again and your body craves what it wants. Besure to supplement ratio of 10:1 zinc :copper other wise you can go anemic from copper deficiency (been down that road before and had drs wanting me to lock me up in the funny farm) because I know I was anemic but none of iron indicating test should it. Another thing to watch out for is vitamin C too much will cause copper levels to drop and low HDL/higher ldl levels will show this. Research shows as little as 1500 mgs of C can affect copper levels.