A review published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society on 1 September 2026 has found that men with either low or high testosterone levels may carry a higher risk of atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heartbeat, than men whose levels sit in the middle of the normal range. The authors, led by Dr Rajat S. Barua of the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center with colleagues at the University of Kansas Medical Center, describe a U-shaped pattern across the evidence they reviewed, with risk lowest at roughly 350 to 550 ng/dL total testosterone and rising at both ends of the scale. The paper is a narrative review of existing population studies and laboratory research rather than a new clinical trial or a systematic meta-analysis, and the authors received no external funding for the work.
Two different mechanisms, one shared pattern
According to the review, evidence published since 2025 suggests low and high testosterone disturb heart cell electrical activity through separate biological pathways, which the authors say helps explain why both ends of the range carry raised risk rather than risk simply falling as testosterone rises. Because the paper synthesises and interprets existing studies rather than running new statistical pooling, the authors describe their conclusions as interpretive rather than the product of a systematic meta-analysis, and call for monitoring, including heart rhythm checks, in men whose testosterone falls outside the mid-range they describe.
What this means for your supplement routine
This review concerns testosterone levels and their relationship to heart rhythm, not a specific food or supplement, and it does not test or mention any product. The authors' own recommendation is for clinicians to monitor heart rhythm alongside testosterone levels rather than to treat a single reading in isolation, which the review frames as a matter for individualised medical management rather than a fixed number to aim for. Perqen's FAQs page sets out how the store describes its products and what it does and does not claim about them.
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This article reports published news and research and is for information only. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet or medical care, and no product mentioned is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before changing what you take, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking prescribed medicines.
Sources
- Barua RS, Maligireddy AR, Barua ST. Association of testosterone and testosterone replacement therapy with atrial fibrillation: an updated review. Journal of the Endocrine Society, Vol 10, Issue 9, September 2026.
- Men with low or high testosterone may have higher risk of irregular heartbeat, Endocrine Society