Medical researchers from the Hospital Universitario Sanatorio Guemes in Argentina have discovered that men who have a low concentration of testosterone -- along with Type 2 diabetes -- have a higher risk of getting heart disease compared to diabetic men who have normal testosterone levels.

The researchers found a strong connection between the low concentration of testosterone and the severe condition of atherosclerosis-related plaques.

Atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease, occurs when an artery wall thickens because of the invasion and accumulation of white blood cells (WBCs). When cholesterol, fats and other fatty substances build up along the walls of the arteries, blood flow is restricted. The plaque buildup can also burst and lead to a blood clot.

"The results of our study advance our understanding of the interplay between low testosterone and cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes," says Javier Mauricio Farias, MD, of the Hospital Universitario Sanatorio Guemes and one of the authors of the study.

The study was participated in by 115 patients, aged 70 years and below, with Type 2 diabetes but without a prior history of heart ailments.

The findings show that men who both have Type 2 diabetes and low concentrations of testosterone are more likely to have endothelial dysfunction, and the thickening of their carotid artery is six times higher than in men who have normal levels of testosterone.

Previous studies have raised concerns on the safety of conducting testosterone therapy and its effects on the cardiovascular system. There has been a notable increase in the number of older men that are getting testosterone replacement therapy in the past decade.

Farias said that there is still the need to conduct further studies in order to learn if testosterone affects the development of atherosclerosis or if it indicates the advanced level of a disease.

"This study is a stepping stone to better understanding the risks of cardiovascular events in men who have both low testosterone and Type 2 diabetes," says Farias.

Details of the study are profiled in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.