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NBC News
14-07-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Weight loss drugs can boost testosterone in men, study finds
Popular weight loss medications like Ozempic can help reverse low testosterone levels in men with obesity or Type 2 diabetes, according to new research. Building on previous studies that show weight loss surgery or lifestyle changes can increase testosterone levels in the body, researchers at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital analyzed the electronic health records of 110 men with obesity or Type 2 diabetes to monitor changes in the hormone while taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semgalutide and tirzepatide. They measured testosterone levels before taking the medications and for 18 months after starting the treatment. Roughly half of the men had low to low-normal testosterone at the start of the study and most reached normal levels after treatment. 'The increases we observed were more modest than what you would typically see with testosterone replacement therapy,' said lead author Dr. Shellsea Portillo Canales, endocrinologist at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital, via email. 'However, they occurred naturally, without testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), and likely reflect the body recovering its normal hormone production as weight and insulin resistance improved.' The study highlights the need for men already on testosterone therapies to closely monitor their levels after starting weight loss medications, Portillo said. In some cases, men may need to have their testosterone supplement doses lowered or discontinued, especially if their testosterone normalizes while on weight loss medications. There are limitations to the new study. The findings don't prove the increase in testosterone levels was caused by the drugs semaglutide or tirzepatide. It was a retrospective study, meaning the researchers analyzed existing medical records over time, rather than conducting a randomized clinical trial. And they didn't check testosterone levels after the men stopped the drugs. 'If weight is regained, testosterone levels could potentially drop again,' Portillo said. The study findings were presented this Monday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco. The researchers are planning to submit it to a medical journal for peer review. Dr. Susan Spratt, professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, said many men are overtreated with testosterone therapy when they have levels on the lower normal side. 'It would be better to treat obesity or diabetes and naturally increase testosterone than to prescribe testosterone — which has known risks,' said Spratt, who was not part of the study. Some risks of testosterone therapy include worsening sleep apnea, acne, enlarging the prostate or breasts, increasing growth of prostate cancer, reducing sperm counts, causing the testicles to shrink and increasing the risk of clots, according to Mayo Clinic. The study shows the dual benefit of weight loss medications in men, said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, obesity medicine physician scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. 'The findings from this study highlight an important intersection between metabolic health and hormonal balance,' Stanford said. 'This dual benefit underscores the potential of these medications to enhance overall health outcomes, including reproductive health, in this population.' Normal testosterone levels are between 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter. Testosterone tends to decline gradually with age, starting around the late 30s to early 40s. By age 75, the average male testosterone level drops to about 65% of the average level seen in young adults, Portillo said. 'Improving testosterone can enhance quality of life and possibly reduce health risks associated with low levels,' Portillo said. Spratt said it's important to distinguish between normal testosterone levels that increase but remain in the normal range, versus low testosterone levels that increase to normal. Testosterone levels that are truly low are most concerning because low testosterone can lower bone density (which increases the risk of fracture), reduce muscle mass, lower hemoglobin (red blood cells) levels and decrease libido, experts say. 'However, treating low normal testosterone without a known cause is controversial and has increased in the past decade likely due to direct-to-consumer marketing,' Spratt said. The researchers only included men in the study, because they didn't expect weight loss drugs to raise testosterone levels in women. 'In general, we don't routinely measure testosterone in women, unless there are signs of a hormonal imbalance, like excess facial hair (hirsutism), irregular periods, infertility or signs of masculinization,' Portillo said. In those cases, testosterone testing can help diagnose conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, adrenal disorders or rare tumors. Some studies in women with PCOS, a condition which raises testosterone levels, suggest GLP-1 therapies may help slightly lower testosterone by improving metabolism and reducing insulin resistance. Certain conditions are well known to decrease testosterone in men, including excess fat, especially around the abdomen, which interferes with hormone signals from the brain to the testicle, experts say.
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Sleep disturbances are key predictors of mental health issues in adolescents: study
CHENNAI: Sleep disturbances are a significant predictor of future mental health issues in adolescents, confirms a latest study published in Nature Medicine. The comprehensive study involving over 11,000 adolescents from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study revealed that sleep disturbances are a significant predictor of future mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. The study, conducted by a team of senior medical scientists at Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, US, found that sleep problems were more predictive of mental health concerns than other known risk factors such as adverse childhood experiences and family history of mental illness. Interestingly, brain imaging data (MRI scans) did not enhance the ability to predict mental health risks, suggesting that psychosocial factors like sleep disturbances may be more crucial indicators. The study followed adolescents aged 9 to 15 years, with approximately 48% female participants, who underwent various assessments, including sleep quality evaluations and brain imaging. The researchers used Machine Learning models developed to analyse the data and predict future mental health outcomes. Implications for Mental Health According to senior psychiatrists Dr Reji Philips, and consultant psychologist Ramon Srivastava, both from Mumbai, recognising sleep disturbances early can help identify adolescents at risk for developing mental health issues, allowing for timely interventions. Addressing sleep problems in adolescents may serve as an effective strategy to prevent the onset of psychiatric disorders. Implementing policies that promote healthy sleep habits among adolescents could be beneficial for public health, they say. However, there were certain limitations in the study in establishing a direct cause and effect relationship sleep disorders with mental health clinically. The study identifies associations between sleep disturbances and mental health issues but does not confirm a direct cause-and-effect relationship, the report says. Hence additional studies are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and to develop effective interventions. Mental health experts, however, agree that while addressing these sleep problems early on can play a crucial role in preventing the development of psychiatric disorders, it highlights the importance of promoting healthy sleep habits and considering sleep quality in mental health assessments.
UPI
09-06-2025
- Health
- UPI
Celebrity diagnoses underscore rising breast cancer rates in young women
June 9 (UPI) -- More young women in the United States are being diagnosed with breast cancer, and several celebrities have helped raise awareness by sharing their stories. Singer Jessie J, 37, said last week that she has early-stage breast cancer and will have surgery this month. "Bachelorette" star Katie Thurston, 34, is documenting her treatment for stage 4 breast cancer. Actress Danielle Fishel, 43, also shared her diagnosis last summer, NBC News said in a new report. The rise in cases reflects a national trend. Between 2012 and 2021, breast cancer rates rose 1.4% each year in women under 50, compared with 0.7% each year in those 50 and older. Rates have increased across all racial and ethnic groups, especially among Asian American and Pacific Islander women under 50. Their breast cancer rates have jumped nearly 50% since 2000. Black women are more likely than other groups to be diagnosed with breast cancer before age 40, and they are also more likely to die from the disease, NBC News said. Routine mammograms usually start at age 40, and younger women are rarely screened unless they're at high risk - such as those with a family history or certain genetic mutation. Doctors say this delay in screening can make it harder to catch breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. "The thought was always, if you had a change in your breast but you were a young woman, it was probably nothing," said Dr. Rani Bansal of Duke University School of Medicine. "As we're seeing more and more younger women get diagnosed ... we need to take these cases seriously." Symptoms to watch for include lumps or nipple discharge. Dr. Oluwadamilola Fayanju, chief of breast surgery at Penn Medicine, said her youngest breast cancer patient was just 17. She said young women should consider getting care at a clinic that specializes in breast imaging. Experts suspect many factors may play a role, including: • Hormones • A diet high in processed foods • Obesity • Increased alcohol use • Exposure to harmful chemicals Environmental toxins like BPA and Teflon have been widely used for decades. Researchers are now studying how those early exposures might raise cancer risk later on, NBC News reported. Some studies suggest that chemical hair straighteners ---often used by Black women -- may increase breast cancer risk, possibly by affecting hormones in the body. Delaying childbirth may also play a role. Women who have babies later in life are more likely to develop postpartum breast cancer - cancers that appear within five to 10 years of giving birth. Each year, about 18,000 U.S. women are diagnosed with postpartum breast cancer, said Dr. Virginia Borges of the University of Colorado Cancer Center. Younger women are more likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, a fast-growing type that has fewer treatment options. Even though overall survival rates are improving, Borges said breast cancer diagnosed before age 35 often spreads more easily. Doctors are still trying to understand why. "We need more data to better tailor our treatments towards younger women," Bansal added. "A lot of the studies that are done are in older women." Experts suggest that women who are at higher risk begin screenings as early as age 30. This may include yearly mammograms and breast MRIs. More information The American Cancer Society has more on breast cancer screening guidelines. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
NBC News
08-06-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Celebrity breast cancer announcements highlight rising rates in young women
Several young celebrities have announced breast cancer diagnoses in the past year — a public reminder that rates are rising among women under 50 in the U.S. Pop singer Jessie J, 37, revealed this week on Instagram that she has early-stage breast cancer and plans to undergo surgery later this month. Katie Thurston, former star of 'The Bachelorette,' has documented her journey with Stage 4 breast cancer on social media after being diagnosed earlier this year at age 34. And actor Danielle Fishel, known for her role on the '90s sitcom 'Boy Meets World,' revealed her diagnosis at age 43 to fans last summer. New breast cancer diagnoses in young women have gone up considerably in the last decade. From 2012 to 2021 — the most recent decade of data — the rate increased 1.4% annually in women under 50, compared with 0.7% annually in women 50 and up. The trend applies to all racial or ethnic groups, particularly Asian American and Pacific Islander women under 50, for whom diagnoses have risen nearly 50% since 2000. Black women have the highest rate of breast cancer before age 40 and are most likely to die of the disease. Women under 40 generally aren't advised to get mammograms unless they have a strong risk factor for breast cancer, such as a family history or genetic mutation. In that case, the American Cancer Society recommends mammograms starting at age 30, plus an annual breast MRI. Several breast cancer doctors said younger patients and their clinicians should be careful not to dismiss symptoms such as a lump or nipple discharge. 'The thought was always, if you had a change in your breast but you were a young woman, it was probably nothing,' said Dr. Rani Bansal, an assistant professor at the Duke University School of Medicine. 'As we're seeing more and more younger women get diagnosed … we need to take these cases seriously.' Dr. Oluwadamilola Fayanju, chief of breast surgery at Penn Medicine, said her youngest patient diagnosed with cancer was just 17. She recommended that young women with symptoms go to a center that's experienced in breast imaging. For women with an elevated risk of breast cancer, she said, 'it may be better for you to be connected with a dedicated breast provider who can keep a close eye on you and do regular exams even well before 40.' Breast cancer in young women is often more aggressive As treatment options for breast cancer have improved, the overall mortality rate among younger women with the disease declined from 2010 to 2020, according to research presented in April at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Chicago. But young women are still more likely to be diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer compared with older women. One reason could be that they're not getting screened as much, so it's harder to catch cases early. Young women are also more likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, which tends to spread fast and has fewer treatment options. Dr. Virginia Borges, a professor of medical oncology at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, said all women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 35 have a higher likelihood of the cancer spreading to the rest of their bodies, for reasons doctors don't fully understand. 'It's like this great big puzzle of all these different factors that can contribute to why we see these cancers behave the way they do,' Borges said. Bansal said doctors are hoping to learn more about which treatments are better suited to women under 50. 'We need more data to better tailor our treatments towards younger women,' she said. 'A lot of the studies that are done are in older women.' Lifestyle, environment, hormones There are several mysteries as to why younger women are diagnosed with breast cancer at higher rates. Doctors generally agree that multiple factors are at play, including lifestyle, hormones and environmental exposures. Diets high in ultra-processed foods or a lack of physical activity can lead to obesity, which in turn elevates one's cancer risk. Women in their 30s and 40s have also increased their alcohol consumption in recent decades, and drinking alcohol is linked to breast cancer. Exposure to environmental toxins such as air pollution, forever chemicals or microplastics could also play a role. 'By the time women now in their 40s were babies, every single baby bottle had BPA. Everyone had Teflon pans in their home. Everyone was spraying Scotchgard around their home,' said Suzanne Price, CEO of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, a nonprofit that works to eliminate exposure to toxic chemicals. Several researchers said more data is needed to definitively draw that link. 'Hopefully within the next few years, we should be having more insight into how those early life exposures drive the risk of breast cancer,' said Dr. Adetunji Toriola, a professor of surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. Some studies have suggested that chemical hair straighteners, which are predominantly used by Black women, may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Fayanju said the straighteners 'can potentially have effects on our ability to process hormones in our body and how those hormones then interact with cells in our breasts, which have receptors for those hormones.' Changes in women's reproductive lives might have some effect as well. Girls in the U.S. are starting their periods slightly earlier in life compared with decades ago. That may increase the length of time in which they're exposed to higher levels of estrogen — a hormone that in some cases can feed cancer cells. A study last year found an increase in the number of women ages 20 to 49 diagnosed with breast cancer that was responsive to estrogen. Many women are also delaying childbirth until their 30s and 40s, which increases the risk of postpartum breast cancer — cancers that occur within five to 10 years of giving birth that appear to be linked to changes in the breasts during that time. Borges estimated that there are about 18,000 new cases of postpartum breast cancer each year. 'How do you get from the millions of women who are having children without ending up with one of these breast cancers to the 18,000 or so who are going to get one of these breast cancers?' she said. 'We're still working on figuring that out. Age is important.'
New York Post
03-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
‘Exciting' new non-opioid painkiller shows promising results — and doesn't build up tolerance
A real ache-ievement! Duke University researchers have devised a promising, potent pain reliever — seemingly without the harmful side effects and addictive highs of opioids. While opioids interact with numerous cellular pathways, the experimental drug is more selective. SBI-810 targets a receptor in the brain and spinal cord, activating a single pain-relief signal while steering clear of other signals that could trigger troublesome consequences. Advertisement 3 Ru-Rong Ji, an anesthesiology and neurobiology researcher who directs the Duke Anesthesiology Center for Translational Pain Medicine, led the team in developing the painkiller SBI-810. Duke University School of Medicine 'What makes this compound exciting is that it is both analgesic and non-opioid,' said senior study author Ru-Rong Ji, an anesthesiology and neurobiology researcher who directs the Duke Anesthesiology Center for Translational Pain Medicine. '[The receptor] is a promising target for treating acute and chronic pain,' Ji added. Advertisement Chronic pain is a persistent problem in the US. Nearly a quarter of adults, about 62 million, experienced it in 2023. Chronic pain has helped fuel the opioid crisis. About 8.6 million Americans 12 years and older reported misusing prescription opioids in 2023. And almost 70% of the 107,000-plus US drug overdose deaths that year were attributed to opioids such as fentanyl. 3 Chronic pain is a persistent problem in the US, with about 62 million adults experiencing it in 2023. AS/ – Advertisement The good news is that there has been recent progress on this front, with more treatment options and fewer opioid-related deaths. It's too early to tell if SBI-810 can help the cause. The drug has not been thoroughly tested in humans, but the results in mice have been encouraging. Opioids like morphine often lead to tolerance with repeated use, requiring higher or more frequent doses to maintain the same level of pain control. Advertisement SBI-810 relieved pain from surgical incisions, bone fractures and nerve injuries without a buildup of tolerance or constipation, another common opioid side effect. 3 The experimental drug SBI-810 targets a receptor in the brain and spinal cord, activating a single pain-relief signal. mybox – When coupled with small doses of opioids, SBI-810 made them more effective at lower doses. And it's said to work better than the painkillers oliceridine and gabapentin in certain situations. The findings were published recently in the journal Cell. Ji's team has secured several patents for SBI-810 and hopes to start human trials soon.
