Low Testosterone Associated With Arthritis In Men & Women | mindbodygreen – mindbodygreen

Assistant Beauty & Health Editor

Assistant Beauty & Health Editor

Hannah Frye is the Assistant Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in womens, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including health, wellness, sustainability, personal development, and more.

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An estimated 25% of adults in the U.S. struggle with arthritis, making it a rampant (and often under-discussed) issue.The most common cause of arthritis is general wear and tearhowever, researchers have found another unexpected link that may be helpful for those struggling.Here's what to know:

For this study, researchers looked at 2013 to 2016 data from an ongoing U.S. database called The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey2 , or NHANES for short. This study included a total of 10,439 people, mainly aged 20 years and older, 48% of whom were men.

The association between arthritis and low testosterone held up for both men and women. This makes the case that testosterone level testing may be helpful for anyone struggling to understand the root of their arthritis, no matter their gender.

This study found other correlations, too, such as smoking, waist circumference, BMI, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseaseso testosterone is certainly not the only thing to consider.However, it's an important one, especially for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who tend to have low testosterone levels3 due to declining adrenal function.

Knowing this association exists may inspire those who are struggling with arthritis to get a hormone test if possible. From there, your health care provider can give you personalized advice and treatment for both hormonal health and joint comfort.

Though testosterone is best known as a male sex hormone, this research reminds us that it's important for women's health, too.

You may also look to DHEA supplements. "The body synthesizes DHEA before converting it to testosterone, making it a reasonable choice for supplementation," Vinjamoori says. However, it's best to consult your health care provider before starting this supplement to ensure it's a necessary part of your routine.

And rememberthis finding is solely an association, not a statement of cause. So, more research is needed to determine if low testosterone causes arthritis or if the correlation is related in another way.

A new analysis study found that patients with arthritis had significantly lower testosterone levels than those without arthritis. This could be a sign that testosterone may play a role in arthritis onset or progression, but more research is needed to be sure. In the meantime, men and women can support their testosterone levels through lifestyle changes and consult a physician if they're interested in hormone testing.

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Low Testosterone Associated With Arthritis In Men & Women | mindbodygreen - mindbodygreen