#84 – AMA #10: Low testosterone, hypothyroidism, building muscle (and preserving it while fasting)

In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter answers a wide range of questions from subscribers. Bob Kaplan, Peter’s head of research, asks the questions. If you’re not a subscriber and listening on a podcast player, you’ll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you’re a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed. You can also listen to this full episode on our website at the AMA #10 show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here.

We discuss:

• Does testosterone supplementation impact longevity? [2:40];
• Under what conditions does Peter decide to treat patients who have low testosterone? [8:50];
• Are there risks involved with testosterone replacement therapy? [17:10];
• How does Peter diagnose and treat hypothyroidism? [21:30];
• How might someone do time-restricted feeding while also adding muscle mass? [26:30];
• If building muscle requires higher levels of IGF-1, should we be concerned about longevity? [34:45];
• How to preserve muscle mass while fasting [41:45];
• Is it possible to simultaneously lose fat and add muscle mass? [46:30]; and
• More.

Does testosterone supplementation impact longevity? [2:40]

Is Peter a “fan” of T supplementation?

• Depends on the person and the situation, says Peter

Does TRT increase lifespan?

• Peter is not convinced it will increase lifespan

Does low T lead to aggressive prostate cancer?

• Low testosterone is associated with more aggressive prostate cancer
• But that’s probably not saying that low testosterone causes aggressive prostate cancer
• What it says is that if you have prostate cancer in a low androgen environment, it is likely to be more aggressive

Does TRT improve healthspan?

-There are 3 components of healthspan

1. Cognition
2. Physical “exoskeleton”
3. Emotional health

-TRT and cognition

• The literature does NOT support the idea that it improves cognition…

{end of show notes preview}