Do aromatase inhibitors increase testosterone better than traditional testosterone boosters? In this video Dr. Mark Testa discusses some of the latest research and what the science may suggest. Learn more about healthy living habits and aromatase inhibitors at: www.trainforlongevity.com
The following is an abstract from a study regarding the use of aromatase inhibitors on testosterone production and men's health. Read the full study here:
Aromatase inhibitors in men: effects and therapeutic options: [ Ссылка ]
Aromatase inhibitors
Aromatase inhibitors are classified as either steroidal or nonsteroidal, or as first, second or third generation. Steroidal inhibitors such as formestane and exemestane inhibit aromatase activity by mimicking the substrate androstenedione. Nonsteroidal enzyme inhibitors such as anastrozole and letrozole inhibit enzyme activity by binding with the heme iron of the enzyme. First-generation aromatase inhibitors such as aminoglutethimide are relatively weak and nonspecific; they can also block other steroidogenic enzymes necessitating adrenal steroid supplementation. Third-generation inhibitors such as letrozole and anastrozole are potent and do not inhibit related enzymes. They are well tolerated and apart from their effects on estrogen metabolism their use does not appear to be associated with important side effects in postmenopausal women [27]. Although aromatase inhibition by anastrozole and letrozole is reported to be close to 100%, administration of these inhibitors to men will not suppress plasma estradiol levels completely. In men third-generation aromatase inhibitors will decrease the mean plasma estradiol/testosterone ratio by 77% [28,29]. This finding probably relates to the high plasma concentrations of testosterone, a major precursor for estradiol synthesis in adult men. As aromatase inhibition is dose dependent it has been suggested that aromatase is less suppressed in the testis compared to adipose and muscle tissue, explaining the incomplete efficacy of aromatase inhibition in men. Aromatase activity is high in the testes and the molar ratio of testosterone to letrozole is much higher in the testes compared with adipose and muscle tissue. When testicular testosterone and estradiol synthesis are suppressed and testosterone is administered exogenously in combination with letrozole, however, the estradiol/testosterone ratio is suppressed by 81% [30], which is only marginally different from the suppression of this ratio in intact men after treatment with letrozole. This incomplete suppression may be regarded as advantageous for it prevents excessive reduction of estrogen levels in men and the possible associated adverse effects. In postmenopausal women with breast carcinoma, long-term use of potent aromatase inhibitors reduces circulating estradiol levels by 88% [31] and is associated with adverse effects on bone [2,3]. Due to the much higher estrogen levels in treated men it remains to be determined whether this also holds true for men.
Effects of aromatase inhibition on luteinizing hormone release and testosterone production
It is well known from experimental evidence and from clinical observations that estradiol has powerful effects on gonadotropin release in men. Modulation of plasma estradiol levels within the male physiological range is associated with strong effects on plasma levels of LH through an effect at the level of the pituitary gland [32]. Lowering estradiol levels, by administering an aromatase inhibitor, is associated with an increase in levels of LH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone [28,29]. Aromatase inhibitors, therefore, have been suggested as a tool to increase testosterone levels in men with low testosterone levels. Due to their mode of action the use of aromatase inhibitors is limited to men with at least some residual function of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. Therefore aromatase inhibitors have been tested in older men suffering from so-called late-onset hypogonadism or partial androgen deficiency. Aging in men is associated with a gradual decline of total and free testosterone levels [33] as a result of combined testicular and hypothalamic dysfunction. The decline of testosterone levels has been implicated in the pathogenesis of physical frailty in older men. Androgen treatment, therefore, has been advocated for older men with signs and symptoms of androgen deficiency and unequivocally low plasma testosterone levels [34,35].
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