Like the magic carpet to Aladdin, or a designer handbag for the Kardashian Clan, an important component for all of us is testosterone.

Testosterone is an important hormone for muscle growth, but can high levels of it be putting us at risk of cancers? Are testoerone boosting supplements dangerous?

According to a recent study (1) from the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, men whose testosterone levels remain naturally high, MAY be more likely to develop prostate and lung cancer in old age.

There are plenty of men out there who take testosterone supplements for not only muscle mass, but for increased sexual performance, so the findings here are worth a look. 

HOW THE STUDY WAS DONE

The research involved keeping an eye on the medical records of men in their 70s and 80s for up to a decade.

They discovered that among those who were diagnosed with prostate cancer, the average level of testosterone circulating freely in the bloodstream was 290 picomoles per litre of blood, versus 277 for those who didn’t develop the disease.

And for those that developed lung cancer, they averaged 317 picomoles per litre compared with 278 for those who DIDN’T contract the killer disease.

Dr Zoe Hyde, the study leader, said prostate cancer's progression was already known to depend on testosterone, and blocking the hormone was considered the best treatment for the disease.

Dr Hyde said studies of testosterone-boosting drugs - sometimes given to men who report low energy or flagging libido - had so far been too small to determine any role in the development of cancer, and larger studies were now needed to enable ''the detection of any carcinogenic signal''.

Dr Hyde and her team also checked out a possible link between testosterone and bowel cancer, but thankfully, found NO link.

''While some men can benefit from testosterone therapy, we still don't fully understand all of the benefits and risks of treatment'' Dr Hyde said.

''No need for men who are currently taking testosterone to stop, but in light of our findings, prostate health should be monitored closely during treatment."

CONCLUSION

So the good news is, there's no real need for anyone taking testoerone supplements to freak out just - although the link is certainly worth acknowledging.

But the important take away is this: just like your training, keep your health checks regular too!

Stay Fit, Stay Flexed!

REFERENCES

(1) Hyde Z et al. Associations between Testosterone Levels and Incident Prostate, Lung, and Colorectal Cancer. A Population-Based Study. July 24, 2012; doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-12-0129Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev August 2012 21; 1319.