Testosterone and Heart Disease

There has been much written lately about the potential link between testosterone therapy and heart disease.

Some study's have shown an increased risk of heart problems but others have not. A group of American Endocrinologists recently called for a retraction of one of these papers that showed an increased risk. 

A European Medicines Agency (EMA) has reviewed the evidence and has concluded that testosterone does not increase the risk of heart disease in patients with confirmed hypogonadism. 

The FDA's final review is still pending. But until that time, the EMA's review is reassuring that testosterone treatment is probably safe for men symptomatic hypogonadism. 

Mediterranean Diet: May Reverse Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions — increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels — that occur together and has been shown to greatly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

A recent analysis of the PREMIMED trial showed that patients with established metabolic syndrome who adhered to a Mediterranean diet were more likely to reverse their disease. 

The PRIMIMED study placed patient on either:

-  Mediterranean diet—one supplemented with about 1 L of extra-virgin olive oil a week, and one supplemented with 30 g/day of walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds

- diet low in fat intake from all sources.

The researchers found that more of the patients with Metabolic syndrome on the Mediterranean diet had full remission of the disease 

As may of you know, I am a big proponent of the Mediterranen Diet. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes eating fruits, vegetables, and seeds, many of which contain minerals, polyphenols, and other phytochemicals that combat oxidative stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance,

Heart Healthy Lifestyle Reduces Risk of MI 86%

Researchers from Sweden recently reported that five lifestyle factors were each independently associated with a lower risk of MI in men.

• Frequent physical activity (walking or cycling at least 40 minutes per day
• Mediterranean style diet (fruits, veggies, reduced-fat dairy, whole grains, and fish)
• Moderate alcohol consumption
• Not smoking 
• Waist less than 37.4 inches

When all five of these behaviors were adhered too, the risk of MI was reduced by 86% compared with individuals who did not adhere to any of these behaviors. 

In addition

• Diet and alcohol cut the risk by 35%
• Diet, alcohol, and not smoking cut the risk by 64%
• Diet, alcohol, not smoking and exercise cut the risk by 76%

So what does this show - that by adhering to the 5 above behaviors, we can dramatically reduce our risk of suffering an MI