Washington, Apr 27: Prostate cancer patients who undergo therapy to increase testosterone levels are more likely to suffer from bone- and heart-related problems, says a new study.

The research team, led by Lockwood Taylor, MPH, of the University of Texas Health Science Centre, revealed that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) used to increase testosterone levels can cause a variety of side effects including skeletal and cardiovascular complications, sexual dysfunction, periodontal disease, and mood disorders.

Bone and heart complications are among the most serious side effects associated with ADT.

After reviewing 14 studies, the researchers found that men treated with ADT for prostate cancer had an increased risk of bone fractures and heart-related death, although the absolute risk for both was still low.

Prostate cancer patients undergoing the therapy are at a 23 percent increased risk of suffering bone fractures.

For heart-related death, the increased risk among ADT-exposed men was 17 percent higher compared to other prostate cancer patients.

"While the absolute risks of fracture and cardiovascular mortality are low among men treated with androgen deprivation therapy, preventive treatments may further reduce the risk of these serious adverse outcomes related to androgen deprivation therapy," the authors wrote.

The study appears in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. (ANI)