Very low testosterone linked to 18% higher cancer death risk in men

· Science

A major international study tracking more than 26,000 men found that very low testosterone levels were associated with an 18% higher risk of dying from cancer later in life, according to a report. Surprisingly, testosterone itself showed no clear link to prostate cancer, although two other sex hormones did show such a link. The researchers believe low testosterone may serve as a marker of broader health problems. The work adds to a long-running debate over the role of sex hormones in cancer risk and in the interpretation of testosterone testing. The immediate effect is a possible new signal for identifying men at higher cancer risk; as an observational association, it does not establish that low testosterone causes cancer deaths.

Why it matters：The results could influence how clinicians interpret testosterone levels and may redirect research on hormonal markers of cancer risk in men.

Key points

  • The international study tracked more than 26,000 men.
  • Low testosterone was tied to an 18% higher cancer death risk.
  • Two other sex hormones, not testosterone, showed a link to prostate cancer.

Sources (original reporting)

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