Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is very well known as a risk factor for testosterone deficiency and impaired sex steroid status. However, earlier studies that investigated the association of testosterone level with diabetes risk in men have reported controversial findings. A group of researchers from China, therefore, conducted a meta-analysis to unravel the possible association between testosterone and T2DM risk and has published their findings in the journal Endocrine Connections.

In the meta-analysis 13 cohort or nested case-control studies with 16,709 participants were included. Higher total testosterone level was found to significantly decrease the risk of T2D in men (relative risk [RR] = 0.65; P = 0.001), and higher free testosterone level was also found to decrease the risk of T2D in men (RR = 0.94; P = 0.014). These associations remained significant even after excluding studies without calculated RRs.

The meta-analysis thus suggests that higher testosterone level can significantly decrease the risk of T2D in men. According to authors, this calls for an in-depth investigation to evaluate the effects of supplemental testosterone in lowering T2DM risk among those with testosterone deficiency and in improving clinical outcomes in men with T2DM.

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