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[kingplaya4]

http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?NewsEntityId=68043

Testosterone Levels Declining in Men at Younger Ages: ZRT Laboratory Hormone Tests Reflect Global Trend
8/29/2007

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- When researchers at ZRT, a leading hormone testing laboratory in Beaverton, Oregon, analyzed the hormone levels of over 8,000 men, they found that testosterone levels peaked in the men's early 20's and gradually declined after that. Testosterone that starts to wane in a man's forties is to be expected, but in some men, testosterone drops more rapidly than normal. And in these men, ZRT finds they suffer more from low energy, erectile dysfunction, and loss of libido, prostate problems and weight gain.

The larger implications for male health and aging are discussed in the September issue of Men's Health Magazine. Male staffers at the magazine tested their hormone levels using ZRT home test kits and reported their "scores". All the men tested within the normal range for their age, but if recent research and testing trends are anything to go by, the Men's Health team could become the exception.

Researchers in the US are finding testosterone levels to be substantially lower -- by about 15 to 20% -- than they were fifteen years ago. Scandinavian studies show similar declines, and in younger men too; a man born in 1970, for example, had about 20 percent less testosterone at 35 than a man of his father's generation at the same age.

David Zava, PhD., President of ZRT Laboratory, and an acknowledged expert on hormonal health, makes the point that environmental toxins, lack of exercise, and prolonged stress often trigger hormonal imbalances that can block testosterone production or its access to tissues. "Hormones work together in symphony," says Zava, "so you really need to look at testosterone in relation to other hormones like cortisol, estrogen, and thyroid that regulate its activity in the cells."

Testosterone is a key player in muscle and bone strength, sex drive and mental sharpness in men. When levels drop below normal, the shortage not only impacts physical and mental performance, but can have serious long-term consequences for health and longevity.

Men who want to stay ahead of the curve can take a simple test in saliva and/or blood spot to check their hormone levels. Male Hormone Profile and comprehensive test kits are available at selected pharmacies, physician's offices and online at http://www.zrtlab.com.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Yeah, all you younguns are a bunch of fruits.

[kingplaya4]

I've suspected this for some time. Men just don't to seem to be as much of well 'men' as they used to be. I can't grow a proper beard, nor can my brother, yet all our older male relatives can. I notice a lot of guys in their late twenties/early thirties that are similiar. In the World War 2 generation this was a rarity.

Apparently a lot of amphibians are being hatched that are dificult to tell whether they are male or female after birth, and amphibians are one of the most vulnerable species which can be considered as a bellweather for the future wellbeing of other species.

My suspicion is this relates to all the pesticides we have grown our foods with in addition to all the air pollution we breathe in.

Btw, if you don't trust this study there was a larger one done in the Boston area a few years ago that focused on middle aged men that had similiar results. About a 15% decline over the past decade among the same age men!

What do others think this trend is being caused by?

[yingwenlaoshi]

[nicholas_chiasson]

-I worked on a diary farm and I think its BGH. The dairy products are laced with such high levels of synth estrogen that it must have some effect on people.

[bassexpander]

I think it's psychological with a physiological response.

Men are not encouraged to be men these days. They're told they're perverts at every corner, and that "No means NO." Am I saying that's a bad thing? No, but I'm a firm believer that it's causing more men to become wussies who hide their penises behind computer monitors rather than going out and seeking the real thing.

Feminism is stealing testosterone.

[mistermasan]

chemicals are everywhere in our modern synthetic world and we don't fully understand them. just one- plastic water bottles/food containers. everything comes wrapped in plastic now. how does this plastic react to the contents. naturally the food folks say all is well. how can we know? they have deeper pockets.

we are guinea pigs. resume consuming.

[twg]

[sargx]

Not enough pirates and lumberjacks anymore, we're all teachers and bankers.

[browneyedgirl]

[butlerian]

[Bryan]

Dietary intake of fat (INCLUDING) saturated fats play a very important role in hormone production. The predominant "healthy" diet for the last 25 years has been a low fat diet, even going so far as the Surgeon General telling people to stay away from high fat food. This was never based on any research at all. We're finding studies that show people with 40%+ of their dietary calories coming from fat can be much 'healthier' (cardiovascular indicators and insulin sensitivity) than the standard American diet.

Vitamin D starts the chain of creating testosterone as well. Men work office and desk jobs a lot more than they did in the 70s.

Anyway, not much problem with having low-normal testosterone, or testosterone 15% lower than average (still in the very normal range) if you are doing everything right and eating healthy. Testosterone isn't that great for your HDL cholesterol levels in the long run. The people that are fatigued and weak don't have levels that are simply 15% lower than average. A 15% drop is nothing because 1 standard deviation is extremely wide for the 'normal range' in endogenous male testosterone.

[forster_0]

[spamghod]

[djsmnc]