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low testostarone(long read) - 4/14/2006 12:17:59 PM

Carl

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Joined: 12/10/2005
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low testosterone Historically, a discussion of treatment with testosterone conjures up an image of a weight lifter or body builder, which usually carries negative connotations. Consequently, physicians have been taught that testosterone should be used only in severe cases where the patient cannot function in normal society.
In the last several years, and, more specifically, with the development of testosterone in a form that simplifies administration and dose, our understanding of low testosterone in men has changed. The medical profession has generally believed that, as men age, many of the changes they experience are due to the aging process rather than to hormonal changes such as are seen in women during menopause.
Currently, millions of American women take hormones to reduce the negative effects of low estrogen levels during and after menopause. Only recently, we’ve begun to recognize a similar syndrome in men and have called it “andropause.” The difference in the way men and women experience this change is that it is a much slower process in men so it is often not as obvious.
In men, mid-life hormone changes usually begin without notice, especially after the age of forty. Unfortunately, the only obvious result may be the gradual assumption of the appearance of “an old man.” Andropause, a condition in which the testosterone level slowly declines with age, also decreases a man’s ability to enjoy sex. In addition to experiencing a decrease in sexual desire and erectile function, men with a lowered testosterone level may also notice changes in mood and emotions, a decrease in body mass and strength due to loss of muscle tissue, and an increase in body fat. Finally, the worst outcome may be alterations in bone mineral density, a condition called osteoporosis, which can lead to severe bone changes and even to fractures.
After the age of thirty, a man may lose up to two percent of testicular function each year. We know that twenty to fifty percent of healthy men between the ages of 50 and 70 have lower than normal levels of testosterone. This statistic indicates that up to five percent of all men are at risk for low testosterone states, a staggering number if you think about it. However, the reported incidence is extremely low, due, at least in part, to the fact that it’s difficult to diagnose a condition that you don’t know about. Until recently, we haven’t known much about low testosterone or testosterone replacement in men.
The Low Testosterone Quiz is taken from the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male Questionnaire, which is a series of questions that can reliably lead clinicians to the possible diagnosis of low testosterone. If the answers to this quiz indicate that a low testosterone level is a possibility, the next step is to have a blood test to measure the testosterone level in the morning. If this test indicates a lower than normal level, a visit to your physician for evaluation and diagnosis is indicated.
Men are living longer and we are beginning to understand more about the aging process. As this knowledge becomes more available, men will demand treatment for low testosterone to maintain or improve their relationships and alleviate other symptoms, including osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction and mood disturbances - many of the same problems that occur in aging women.

by Chris Steidle, MD.

another different article...

The forgotten symptoms of low testosterone levels... Are you having a hard time building new muscle? Do you suffer from low sex drive, constant tiredness, depression, or a loss of strength? If so, low testosterone levels could be the problem.
Many think of low testosterone as something that just affects older men. However, men in their 30's and 40's also fall prey to low testosterone counts. According to the FDA, more than four million men suffer from low testosterone levels. Yet, 95 out of 100 men fail to seek treatment - often because they just accept the symptoms as a "normal" part of getting older.
Low testosterone levels Testosterone is produced mainly in the Leydig cells in the male testes, and in smaller amounts by the adrenal gland near the kidneys. In women, where production is about one-tenth the total of males, roughly one-half comes from the ovaries. For men, the normal level of testosterone in the bloodstream is between 350 and 1230 nanograms per deciliter.

The production of testosterone increases rapidly at the onset of puberty. Once you reach middle age, however, testosterone levels begin to drop by about one percent each year. In the short-term, this might not sound like much. By the time you reach your 70's and 80's, this constant decline increases the risk of obesity, brittle bones, muscle loss and impotence. Very low testosterone levels can also increase your risk of dying from a heart attack.
Although it's considered as a male hormone, women need testosterone too. Despite the fact they only produce a small amount, testosterone helps women maintain the strength of muscle and bone. After the menopause, testosterone levels drop. Estrogen replacement therapy can also reduce testosterone levels, leaving some postmenopausal women concerned about a lack of energy and libido.

Testosterone is a hormone that's also very important for people wanting to shed fat while preserving (or even gaining) lean muscle. In fact, hormones such as testosterone are one reason why you can lose weight on the scales without being able to shift the fat that seems to be glued to your stomach.
Think of a hormone like the remote control for your television. In much the same way that you change the channel using the remote control, hormones can change the way your fat cells respond to the food you eat.
Your body has billions of these tiny fat cells. They expand to many times their original size in order to store fat. They also shrink when they release stored fat. Fat cells respond to hormones in one of two ways, depending on whether the signal is lipogenic or lipolytic.

The term lipo means fat, while lysis means breakdown. So, a lipolytic (pronounced lip-o-lit-ik) hormone increases the number of fat calories burned for energy. Hormones that promote fat storage, on the other hand, are known as lipogenic (pronounced lie-po-jen-ik). In other words, lipogenic hormones promote fat storage.
Fat loss Testosterone affects fat loss in one of two ways [2]. Just like a car, your fat cells have a series of brakes and accelerators. The parts of a fat cell that accelerate the release of fat are called beta-receptors. The parts of a fat cell that put the brakes on fat loss are known as alpha- receptors.

The distribution of brakes and accelerators on each fat cell is one reason why certain parts of your body shed fat faster than others. Women, for example, often have a hard time losing fat from their hips. That's because the fat cells in that area have a higher ratio of alpha- to beta-receptors.

If a fat cell has more beta-receptors, it will release stored fat more quickly than one with fewer beta-receptors. That's where testosterone appears to help. By increasing the number of beta-receptors, testosterone makes it easier to lose stored fat.

What's more, testosterone can also limit the storage of fat. When fat cells are exposed to testosterone in a test tube, the activity of lipoprotein lipase — an enzyme that promotes fat storage — is dramatically reduced.
To see whether the same thing happens in the human body, researchers from Sweden gave a group of overweight older men supplemental testosterone (in the form of a pill or an injection) for six weeks [7]. When it was measured after just one week, lipoprotein lipase activity in abdominal fat tissue dropped. Even more dramatic changes were seen six weeks later. Waist size also dropped in 9 of the 11 men.

Further research confirms the positive effect of testosterone on body composition in older men [5]. The men were aged between 65 and 87. All had low levels of free testosterone, and were treated with either transdermal testosterone (two 2.5 milligram patches per day) or fake patches containing no testosterone.
After 12 months, free testosterone levels in the group using the patches rose by 75%. There was no change in the group given the fake patches. Subjects using the testosterone patches also lost fat, with the average body fat percentage dropping from 26.3% to 24.6%.

A long-term study also confirms that men with low testosterone levels are more likely to develop a pot belly [6]. More than 100 Japanese-American men took part in the research. A number of measurements, including total body fat and testosterone levels, were taken at the start of the study. The same measurements were taken again seven years later. Body fat increased to a greater extent in the men starting the study with low testosterone levels.
The link between hormones and body fat applies to women as well as men. Specifically, researchers from Yale have uncovered a link between a hormone known as cortisol and abdominal fat in otherwise slender women [4]. In other words, women who secrete more cortisol in response to stress also have more abdominal fat.
Testing While a blood test is one of the most common ways to measure testosterone levels, there are several less invasive methods currently available. For instance, some research shows that analyzing saliva is an accurate way to test for low testosterone levels.

Testosterone travels around your bloodstream in two forms — free testosterone or bound testosterone. Roughly two percent of total testosterone is made up of free testosterone, which is the most "active" form. The rest is attached to sex hormone-binding globulin (known as SHBG) and other proteins [3].
In aging men, it's possible for total testosterone to appear normal, while free testosterone is actually low. If you do get your testosterone levels measured, make sure to ask for a reading of both total and free testosterone.
While a blood or saliva test is a more accurate way of establishing your levels of testosterone, you can also use The Saint Louis University Androgen Deficiency in Aging Men (ADAM) Questionnaire. Dr. John Morley, a researcher with the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, developed the self-screening tool to help identify symptoms of low testosterone in men. Choose the responses below that best describe how you have been feeling.

1. Do you have a decrease in libido (sex drive)?
2. Do you have a lack of energy?
3. Do you have a decrease in strength and/or endurance?
4. Have you lost height?
5. Have you noticed a decreased "enjoyment of life"?
6. Are you sad and/or grumpy?
7. Are your erections less strong?
8. Have you noticed a deterioration in your ability to play sports?
9. Are you falling asleep after dinner?
10. Has there been a recent deterioration in your work performance?

If you answer yes to question one or seven, or at least three of the other questions you may have low testosterone levels.
Mood Another common sign of low testosterone is a change in mood and behavior. You find it very easy to get angry at trivial incidents. Things you used to enjoy now seem like chores. Life no longer seems to be an endless stream of possibilities.
When men who cannot produce testosterone come off hormone replacement therapy, they become irritable and depressed. Their mood improves when they resume treatment.
In fact, some researchers think that low testosterone levels are one reason why some men become grumpy, nervous and irritable as they age. Stress can also cause men of any age to experience a drop in testosterone levels.
The reason is that certain regions of your brain are "loaded" with receptors for testosterone. In fact, men with depression have free testosterone levels almost 20% lower than normal [1]. In contrast, high levels of testosterone lift your mood, giving you a feeling of well-being.
If you do have a blood test, remember that testosterone levels are generally higher in the morning and lower in the evening. However, the degree to which testosterone levels vary during the day is reduced as you age. There are also peaks and troughs during the year. Testosterone levels reach a high during June and July, and drop during winter and early spring [8].
If you'd like to get your testosterone levels measured, HRT Experts provide professional, private, one-on-one consulting for members in the areas of:

Testosterone therapy for optimal health and performance
Nutrition specific to weight loss and muscle gain
Growth hormone therapy
Erectile dysfunction and/or low sex drive
Andropause (male version of menopause)
Lifestyle management for body transformation
Complete hormone management and re-balancing

In boys, the test is ordered, often along with the FSH and LH tests, if puberty is delayed or slow in developing. Although there are differences from individual to individual as to when puberty begins, generally by the age of 10 years, there are hormonal and physical manifestations of the onset of puberty. A delay can occur if the testes do not produce enough testosterone or if the pituitary does not produce enough LH.

The test also can be ordered if a young boy seems to be undergoing a very early (precocious) puberty with obvious secondary sex characteristics, such as an enlarged penis, development of muscle mass, and growth of body hair. Causes of precocious puberty in boys, due to increased testosterone, include various tumors and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

also...overtraining

Signs of Over-training Symptoms indicating over exertion can be classified in the following way:

Movement coordination symptoms:
- Increased incidence of disturbances in movement (the re-appearance of faults that seemed to have been overcome, cramp, inhibitions, insecurity)
- Disturbances in rhythm and flow of movement
- Lack of ability to concentrate
- Reduced power of differentiation and correction

Condition symptoms:
- Diminished powers of endurance, strength, speed. Increase in recovery time, loss of 'sparkle' (competitive qualities)
- Reduced readiness for action, fear of competition, giving-up in face of difficult situations, especially at the finish
- Confusion in competition, departure from usual tactics
- Susceptibility to demoralising influences before and during competition
- Increasing tendency to abandon the struggle

Psychological symptoms:
- Increased irritability, obstinacy, tendency to hysteria, grumbling, defiance, increased quarrelsomeness, avoidance of contact with coach and colleagues
- Over sensitivity to criticism, or increasing indolence, poor incentive, dullness, hallucination, anxiety, depression, melancholy, insecurity

Close observation can help eliminate the possibility of serious effects of over-stressing. As soon as symptoms are noticed, loading should be reduced and recovery pursued. All performance checks and competition pressures must be removed and active recovery put in their place.
Causes of Over-Training It is possible to categorise certain factors, if permitted to accumulate, which will bring about a state of over-training. They are as follows:

Recovery is neglected (mistakes in the build-up of training cycles, inadequate use of general exercise sessions for recovery)
Inappropriate increase in frequency of training or extent of loading or density of loading
Demands are increased too quickly, so that adaptation cannot be consolidated
Too rapid increase of loading after forced breaks (injuries, illness)
Too great an extent of loadings of maximum and sub-maximum intensity
Too high an intensity of duration loadings in endurance training
Excessive and forced technical schooling in complicated courses of movement without adequate recovery
Excess of competitions with maximum demands, combined with frequent disturbance of the daily routine and insufficient training
Excessive bias of training methods and units

( i did not write these, i wish i did, but i thought it was interesting and people should read it)

my testostarone quiz came back and said that i may have a low testostarone level. and im only 15! i was thinking about talking to my dad and the doctor to get a test, because in 7th/8th grade the guys in athletics thought it was a funny game to hit eachother really hard in the nuts. i got smacked a few good times. also, my parents complaine that im too grumpy and i get angry really easy. a few months ago i was classafied as "hypo-gluemic-reactive", witch is a case of low/high blood sugar. i am thinking its the blood sugar, i hope, but i still think its a good idea to get checked, because as a teen im still learning sexual stuff also and im not sure what exactly is perfectly normal and what isnt. what do you guys think? maybe it could be over training?

i also just found a link about ppl with high/low blood sugar and testostarone leves http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/01/health/webmd/main658541.shtml

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RE: low testosterone(long read) - 4/16/2006 7:47:16 AM

intense

Posts: 34
Joined: 3/18/2006
From: South Carolina
Status: offline

Carl,

You certainly have done a good job researching this topic. It is very unlikely you are deficient in testosterone, and more likely that you are over-training. Your blood sugar condition probably plays an important role in the symptoms you described. Insulin is a major component in the anabolic process. Most everyone who starts bodybuilding at a young age, trains too much. That why very few stick with it very long. When I started training, I did ten sets of ten for bench, curls and squats, EVERYDAY! I did make some gains, but became frustrated when my progress seemed to slow. Allow your body to heal and grow. The lifting part of bodybuilding can only be productive if you feed your body the fuel it needs to repair the muscles, and allow your body to rest for the repairs to happen. There are people that do jobs that require them to lift very heavy things, over and over, everyday. They don't allow their bodies time to heal, and they don't provide the proper fuel for this process to happen. How do the majority of heavy laborers look? Over-training is probably the biggest problem for new bodybuilders.

I suggest you do research on the best way to train and eat for bodybuilders who have blood sugar disorders. Talk to your Doctor. There was a bodybuilder many years ago named Tim Belknap who won the Mr. America title. He was a Diabetic. He was huge, even by today's standards.

Finally, and maybe the most important thing, enjoy being a kid. Bodybuilding can add a lot to life, but don't let it become your only obsession. Chase girls, ride your bike, play sports, hang out with your buddies and have fun. Let bodybuilding be a part of your life, not your life. You sound like a really bright kid.

The picture is of Tim Belknap, AAU Mr. America, Diabetic Bodybuilder

With respect

Intense

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