Article Surfing Archive

The chemical imbalance can lead to symptoms such as depression, fatigue and muscle weakness. But researchers specializing in male health and sexual function have reported that a combination of two safe natural metabolites - propionyl-L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine - are even more effective than testosterone in treating the depression, fatigue and sexual dysfunction that can be associated with male ageing.

It's not that testosterone doesn't work - in fact; the researchers reported that testosterone worked significantly better than a placebo. It's just that the combination of "carnitines" worked even better. (And since they're safe and effective alternatives to testosterone, the carnitines offer the perfect solution for men who have had prostate cancer and cannot take testosterone. More on that in paragraph three.)

The researchers randomly divided 120 men between the ages of 60 and 74 into three groups. The first group took 160mg of testosterone daily, the second group took 2 grams of propionyl-L-carnitine and 2 grams of acetyl-L-carnitine daily, and the third group took a placebo. Over the next six months, the men were given a variety of standardized tests.

The results showed that the men in both the testosterone group and the carnitines group had significant improvement in depression and fatigue.

Both of these groups also exhibited significant improvement in blood flow velocity in the penis, nocturnal erections, and their International Index of Erectile Function scores.

However, even though testosterone had a significant effect, the carnitines were even more effective than the testosterone in two categories: Improving nocturnal erections and the International Index of Erectile Function score. None of the groups experienced significant side effects.

After six months, when the men stopped taking the testosterone or the carnitines (each man was taking one or the other but not both), the positive effects they had experienced diminished and nearly all measurements reverted to baseline.

The researchers concluded: "Testosterone and, especially, carnitines proved to be active 'drugs' for the therapy of symptoms associated with male ageing." (Of course, you and I know that testosterone, propionyl- L-carntine and acetyl-L-carnitine aren't drugs - they're naturally occurring substances.

The current trend in testosterone-replacement therapy is the application of natural testosterone to the skin (transdermal administration). The first of these methods is the scrotal patch (solid under the name Testoderm) made from a vegetable source. Scrotal patches tend to be rather inconvenient, though, so there have been some other innovations in testosterone replacement.

The 'almost anywhere' patch works in much the same fashion as the scrotal patch but can be applied anywhere except the scrotum or bony areas. This type of patch is solid under the names Androderm and Testoderm TTS. The use of Androderm resulted in significant improvements in fatigue, mood and sexual function.

Two more options in natural testosterone replacement are creams and gels, which are usually much cheaper and more accessible than the patches.

Remember: Testosterone doesn't cause prostate cancer (if it did, young men would have the highest rates), but it does increase the growth rate of a cancer that's already there.

But don't settle for 'plain' PSA measurement; there are more advanced and more accurate measurements. At present I prefer the 'cPSA' (complexed PSA) test; your doctor may prefer another.

Even bio-identical hormones can be dangerous in excess. So no matter how great you feel, don't take more than your tests show you need!