Men with high testosterone levels are at greater risk of developing heart disease, research shows.
Analysis of data from more than one million adults found a 17 per cent higher risk of coronary artery disease in these men.
For the study, University of Cambridge researchers looked only at testosterone levels that were high due to genetics.
But experts say the results should act as a warning for men who buy testosterone supplements online, as it could have fatal consequences.
Testosterone supplementation is an approved treatment for hypogonadism, a condition in which the body does not make enough of the hormone, and which typically manifests with fatigue and sexual dysfunction.
Research suggests that, after the age of 40, men’s testosterone levels fall by about 1 per cent every year. For most men, this will not lead to any noticeable changes.
Studies suggest that only around 0.5 per cent of men suffer from hypogonadism.
However, in recent years, the private testosterone market has boomed – it is currently estimated to be worth more than £700 million and is growing by nearly 10 per cent a year.
Men with high testosterone levels are at greater risk of developing heart disease, research shows (Stock image)
In recent years, the private testosterone market has boomed. Pictured: A tube advert for an at-home test for low testosterone levels in men
Companies claim that the drug can help men as young as 30 with a variety of minor symptoms, from fatigue to muscle growth and stronger erections.
‘More and more men are taking testosterone supplements, in part because of greater awareness of hypogonadism in men, but also because of increased marketing and social media trends, particularly targeted at younger men,’ said Emily Morbey, one of the Cambridge study’s authors.
‘Our work indicates that high levels of testosterone in the blood increase the risk of coronary artery disease, which in turn can put people at risk of heart attack and heart failure.’
She added: ‘When there is a medical need to boost testosterone, the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks. But this might not necessarily be the case when taken to boost performance.’
Fellow study author Professor Ken Ong called for national guidance to be implemented. The scientists found no clear link between testosterone and risk of coronary artery disease in women.
