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Ellen Nolte and C. Martin McKee
Measuring The Health Of Nations: Updating An Earlier Analysis
Health Affairs, January/February 2008; 27(1): 58-71. [Abstract] [Full Text] [Figures Only] [PDF] [Online Exhibit][Erratum] [Reprints & Permissions]

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[Read eLetter] This Could Be Due To Testosterone
James M. Howard   ( 15 January 2008 )
[Read eLetter] Re: This Could Be Due To Testosterone
Raymond D. Barnum   ( 1 April 2008 )

This Could Be Due To Testosterone 15 January 2008
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James M. Howard,
Biologist
Independent

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Re: This Could Be Due To Testosterone

jmhoward{at}anthropogeny.com James M. Howard

It is my hypothesis that increased testosterone is the basis of primate evolution and is maximized in humans ("Androgens in Human Evolution," Rivista di Biologia / Biology Forum 2001; 94: 345-362). Based on this idea, I suggest that, periodically, testosterone increases within the population to such a degree that negative consequences of excessive testosterone accrue with time. This will be exaggerated within certain populations due to factors propitious to reproduction of individuals of higher testosterone, such as the United States at this time.

A case may be made that this increase of testosterone may account for the increased obesity, diabetes, etc. that are now being noticed by many agencies and the public. This event is currently being observed in many different countries, and I think it is maximized in the United States.

I suggest the findings of this report, and others, that the U.S. rates behind other countries in many areas attributed to health care are due to increased testosterone within the U.S. The health care education and delivery systems of the U.S. are first rate and should not be disparaged because it is simply being overwhelmed by the negative consequences of an excessive increase in the percentage of individuals of higher testosterone with time within the population of the United States.

Re: This Could Be Due To Testosterone 1 April 2008
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Raymond D. Barnum,
Dentist
Self-employed

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Re: Re: This Could Be Due To Testosterone

rbtulsa{at}gmail.com Raymond D. Barnum

Is there any credible evidence that testosterone levels are increasing? If so, ignore the following:

I have a theory that men who sit a lot put pressure on their gonads that decreases blood flow and results in less of the endogenous endocrine output that is part of healthy male homeostasis.

As more of our population spends time sitting in various types of "activity," the phenomenon grows.

Perhaps an analysis of the endogenous products of the testes versus the portion of each 24 hours spent sitting would yield useful data to test this hypothesis. The implications for altering the postural aspects of information workers (and hobbyists who love to cruise the 'Net) are worth considering.

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