Testosterone May Be Risky for Older Men

Taking large doses of testosterone may increase the risk of heart attack and other problems in frail older men, a study suggests. The study included about 200 men, age 65 or older. All of them were in poor health. They had low testosterone levels and problems with moving around. Many were obese. They also had above-average rates of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease. They were randomly assigned to receive either testosterone gel or a placebo. The goal was to find out if the hormone would help them move more easily. But the study was stopped early. This was done because of high rates of heart or blood vessel problems among men who were getting the hormone. They included severe chest pain, heart attack and stroke. The rate of these problems was more than four times as high for men who got the placebo.