One solution to men's ailments

A TREATMENT meant for men suffering from testosterone deficiency has been found to be beneficial for a whole host of problems, ranging from high cholesterol to blood sugar.

The bonus benefits of Nebido, an injectable form of testosterone, was found after a recently concluded 11-year study by Professor Michael Zitzmann.

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Prof Zitzmann, from the Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology of the University in Muenster, Germany, was in Singapore to share his study's findings at a health conference that ended yesterday.

One of his more exciting findings was that the overall benefits to men stretched far beyond just replacing testosterone levels.

It would also benefit them medically by:

• cutting waist circumference; 
• reducing body weight; 
• lowering bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol; 
• lowering blood sugar; and 
• increasing bone density.

Prof Zitzmann told The New Paper: 'A UK study in the '90s showed that if you decrease the blood glucose levels of those in the diabetic group by 1 to 2 per cent, it means lowering the death rate due to various diabetic symptoms by 20 per cent among those in the group.

'The impact is significant.'

All the changes for the better occur in the first year of therapy, except for bone density improvement, which takes two years before it happens, he said.

This is the first long-term study done on Nebido tolerance and safety.

Prof Zitzmann's research is an extension of a nine-year study which has already been published in an international journal.

His patients on therapy (an injection given once every three months) reported at least one of these:

1. restoration of sexual function;

2. becoming more vigorous;

3. feeling less depressive.

Prof Zitzmann said: 'A typical patient would be someone approaching middle age, complaining that while once he had always been very efficient at work, now he would just sit at work and watch piles of papers accumulating on his desk.

'His people would be telling him he cannot lead them anymore. He would describe feelings of being burnt-out and asking why this was happening to him.'

In his study of 180 patients, about 2,000 injections were given.

'We had only one case where the patient had an inflammation of the prostate. He did not stop the treatment and his prostate gradually returned to normal,' Prof Zitzmann said.

Dr Clarence Yeo, a family physician, who treats 10 to 20 patients a month with testosterone injections, said the research is showing 'a definite link between low testosterone and a host of other medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure', all collectively known as 'metabolic syndrome'.

Dr Yeo said: 'Instead of viewing these conditions as individual denominators, the studies show that you can treat the patient holistically by treating his low testosterone levels, which will also improve his blood glucose levels and his hypertension, among other things.'

But Prof Zitzmann and Dr Yeo said that the injection is not the complete answer to health problems.

Dr Yeo said: 'Patients need to make some inroads to changes in their lifestyles too. If you couple the therapy with good diet and exercise, then the improvement in health will be lasting.'

Increasing cases

Prof Zitzmann said that there is a growing incidence of low testosterone levels among men in the last 10 years. He attributed this is to people having unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles and diets that are high in fats and carbohydrates.

He said: 'Our food source is also more contaminated with xeno-oestrogen, a foreign oestrogen which can come from chemicals such as bisphenol-A, used in many plastic containers today. This can interfere with men's natural hormone production.'

He cited certain examples in the animal world, where low testosterone levels were affecting the males of certain species.

'For example, more crocodiles are being found with tiny penises, which is making reproduction for them difficult. (This has been found in) whales as well.

'Bispenol-A, which can get into our food from plastic containers, has also been held responsible for higher rates of testicular cancer as well as lowering testosterone levels in men,' he said.

Hence, the importance of this type of therapy will probably continue to grow.

Nebido was launched in Singapore late last year and costs about $400 an injection.

Professor Peter Lim, president of the Society for Men's Health Singapore, said that previously, men here could only rely on conventional therapies such as oral medication and fortnightly injections.

'These are not very reliable, because they cause fluctuations in hormonal levels, thus causing undesired effects such as acne,' he said.

'Nebido, a three-monthly injection, dramatically reduces the fluctuations and quickly restores testosterone levels to normal.'