Get moving! Exercise, not testosterone, boosts men’s artery health, study finds

A new study led by researchers at The University of Western Australia has claimed exercise is more effective than testosterone treatment for improving artery health in middle-aged and older men.

As men get older, both their testosterone levels and physical activity tend to decrease, while their risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases. CVD is an umbrella term for a number of conditions, such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke and high blood pressure.

Previous studies have found that testosterone therapy can help build muscle mass and strength in men, but it wasn’t clear if testosterone also improves artery health and function.

So, to put this to the test, the researchers examined the effect of exercise training and testosterone treatment on artery function. The research was published in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal, and funded by the Heart Foundation of Australia.

They enlisted the help of 78 men, aged between 50 and 70, who had low-to-medium testosterone levels at the start of the study. The men also had no history of CVD and a waist measurement of 95 centimetres or more, which is above the recommended level for good health.

The participants were randomly assigned to four groups: 21 men received a testosterone cream that was applied to the skin daily, along with aerobic and strength training two to three times a week; 18 men received testosterone cream with no exercise training; 19 men received a placebo with exercise training; and 20 men received a placebo and no exercise training. They had ultrasound scans at the beginning and end of the trial, along with a series of other testing to monitor the artery diameter responses to changes in blood flow.

The findings showed artery function improved most – by 28 per cent – in the group who did exercise training without testosterone. Artery function improved by 19 per cent in the group who received a combination of testosterone and exercise. However, there was no improvement in artery function in the group that received testosterone therapy without exercise training. The study also found that exercise was more effective at reducing body fat and developing lean body mass than testosterone.

Adjunct Professor Trevor Shilton, director of Active Living at the Heart Foundation, said the findings reinforce how important physical activity is for cardiovascular health. “We know that being active helps to delay, prevent and manage many chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer,” he says, adding that it can help prevent and reverse weight gain, high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Shilton went on to say that adults are advised to aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week, with the inclusion of strength training at least twice a week.

“This new study explores the effects of physical activity and testosterone on the arteries themselves and lays the foundation for larger studies in this area,” he said.