Depression leads to lower T levels ?

[chip douglas]

Dr. John told me that depression in and of itself increases pro inflammatory cytokines inhibiting both GH and Testosterone.

So this would mean Dysthymia can be a cause for low TT in the 400 range ?

Why then if depression can bring on low T, that we see so many men on TRT ?

My point among those men (if my above correlation is not wrong) with low T, part may originate from depression, while others from overt low T.

Marianco, would you be so kind as to shed some light on this, so I better understand which comes first ?

Thankfully

[edro]

I can tell you my experience.

TRT has lifted a years long depression brought on (I believe) by overwork and a lousy marraige. I cant say which came first though, the low T or the depression, I wonder as well.

I'm just finishing my first 5 weeks of weekly injections instead of daily gel's, and by the end of the week I feel much like I did before TRT. Bloodwork with my endocrinologist is tomorrow, I expect the dose to increase and I'm going to twice weekly injections..

Ed

[chip douglas]

Thanks for sharing Ed, that was kind of you.

[marianco]

Originally Posted by chip douglas

Dr. John told me that depression in and of itself increases pro inflammatory cytokines inhibiting both GH and Testosterone.

So this would mean Dysthymia can be a cause for low TT in the 400 range ?

Why then if depression can bring on low T, that we see so many men on TRT ?

My point among those men (if my above correlation is not wrong) with low T, part may originate from depression, while others from overt low T.

Marianco, would you be so kind as to shed some light on this, so I better understand which comes first ?

Thankfully

It is not really useful to determine which came first. It is more useful to determine what is deficient or in excess to indicate what treatment would be best.

Depression can have multiple contributing factors. There may be a genetic tendency for having low serotonin levels, for example. There may be problems involving other neurotransmitters, hormones, and immune system cytokines such as dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA, glutamate, PEA, thyroid hormone, estrogens, testosterone, progesterone, DHEA, etc., etc. Only one of these contributing factors is testosterone. Depression can reduce GH and testosterone production. However, depression is often the endpoint of multiple system problems occurring at the same time.

Testosterone decreases with age, generally past the age of 30 in men. Depression does not always occur. A low testosterone may not be due to depression so much as genetic fators and age and other hormone imbalances, etc.. Testosterone deficiency can thus be also a multiple system problem, aside from age-related decline.

In many patients, a multiple system treatment would best address their problems. It would be nice if adding testosterone will solve everything. But this obviously is not the case with many patients. They still have problems even with high testosterone levels.

[chip douglas]

Very interesting.

When you write multiple system malfunctions, does it imply mostly hormones ? Or is the immune system as involved as the various hormones ?

Thanks Marianco

[chip douglas]

Marianco--I'm into weight lifting to some extent, but have never used steroids and do not intend to for that matter.

Now, is there any way to keep testosterone up as we go on in years other than pharmaceuticals ? I mean normal high T, not supraphysiological levels.

Marc

[JustOne]

I know heavy weight training every 36hours can help keep Testosterone up.

I would also like to know about multiple system problems, I would like to know what I am ment to ask my doctor about? like a a proper brain chemical check, certain minereal deficiencies? etc

[chip douglas]

Yes, that would definately be interesting to hear Marianco about this. His post are always so clear and to the point.