Effects of testosterone supplementation in the aging male. Effect of testosterone supplementation on functional mobility, cognition, and other parameters in older men: a randomized controlled trial. Testosterone supplementation in men with type 2 diabetes, visceral obesity and partial androgen deficiency Effects of transdermal testosterone on bone and muscle in older men with low bioavailable testosterone levels, low bone mass, and physical frailty. Testosterone therapy increases sexual desire in ageing men with low–normal testosterone levels and symptoms of androgen deficiency Effects of modest testosterone supplementation and exercise for 12 weeks on body composition and quality of life in elderly men. Effect of testosterone supplementation on sexual functioning in aging men: a 6-month randomized controlled trial Effect of 12 month oral testosterone on testosterone deficiency symptoms in symptomatic elderly males with low-normal gonadal status. Testosterone therapy during exercise rehabilitation in male patients with chronic heart failure who have low testosterone status: a double-blind randomized controlled feasibility study. Testosterone Treatment of Men With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Low Testosterone Levels Effects of testosterone on muscle strength, physical function, body composition, and quality of life in intermediate-frail and frail elderly men: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Characterization of verbal and spatial memory changes from moderate to supraphysiological increases in serum testosterone in healthy older men Effects of testosterone and progressive resistance exercise in healthy, highly functioning older men with low-normal testosterone levels. Effects of transdermal testosterone on bone and muscle in older men with low bioavailable testosterone levels. Testosterone improves spatial memory in men with Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment Testosterone supplementation improves spatial and verbal memory in healthy older men Testosterone therapy in women with chronic heart failure: a pilot double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
Serum and rogen levels decline with aging in normal males , such that a significant number of men over 60 yr of age will have a mean serum total testosterone ( T ) level near the low end of the normal adult range . It is not known whether lower T levels in older men have an effect on and rogen-responsive organ systems , such as muscle , bone , bone marrow , and prostate , nor are there data to evaluate the relative benefits and risks of T supplementation in older men . We assessed the physiological and biochemical effects of T therapy in 13 healthy men , 57 - 76 yr old , who had low or borderline low serum T levels ( < or = 13.9 nmol/L ) .  Intramuscular testosterone enanthate ( TE ; 100 mg weekly ) and placebo injections were given for 3 months each . Before treatment and at the end of both 3-month treatment regimens , lean body mass , body fat , biochemical parameters of bone turnover , hematological parameters , lipoprotein profiles , and prostate parameters [ such as prostate-specific antigen ( PSA ) ] were evaluated . Serum T levels rose in all subjects with TE treatment , such that the lowest level of T during a week 's period was 19.7 + /- 0.7 nmol/L ( mean + /- SE ) . After 3 months of TE treatment , lean body mass was significantly increased , and urinary hydroxyproline excretion was significantly depressed . With TE treatment , there was a significant increase in hematocrit , a decline in total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol , and a sustained increase in serum PSA levels . Placebo treatment led to no significant changes in any of these parameters . We conclude that short term ( 3 months ) TE supplementation to healthy older men who have  serum T levels near or below the lower limit of normal for young adult men results in an increase in lean body mass and possibly a decline in bone resorption , as assessed by urinary hydroxyproline excretion , with some effect on serum lipoproteins , hematological parameters , and PSA . The sustained stimulation of PSA and the increase in hematocrit that occur with physiological TE supplementation suggest that older men should be screened carefully and followed periodically throughout T therapy CONTEXT Serum testosterone levels decline significantly with aging . Testosterone supplementation to older men might beneficially affect the aging processes . OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of testosterone supplementation on functional mobility , cognitive function , bone mineral density , body composition , plasma lipids , quality of life , and safety parameters in older men with low normal testosterone levels . DESIGN , SETTING , AND PARTICIPANTS Double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial of 237 healthy men between the ages of 60 and 80 years with a testosterone level lower than 13.7 nmol/L conducted from January 2004 to April 2005 at a university medical center in the Netherl and s. INTERVENTION Participants were r and omly assigned to receive 80 mg of testosterone undecenoate or a matching placebo twice daily for 6 months . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Functional mobility ( Stanford Health Assessment Question naire , timed get up and go test , isometric h and grip strength , isometric leg extensor strength ) , cognitive function ( 8 different cognitive instruments ) , bone mineral density of the hip and lumbar spine ( dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning ) , body composition ( total body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and abdominal ultrasound of fat mass ) , metabolic risk factors ( fasting plasma lipids , glucose , and insulin ) , quality of life ( Short-Form Health 36 Survey and the Questions on Life Satisfaction Modules ) , and safety parameters ( serum prostate-specific antigen level , ultrasonographic prostate volume , International Prostate Symptom score , serum levels of creatinine , aspartate aminotransferase , alanine aminotransferase , gamma-glutamyltransferase , hemoglobin , and hematocrit ) . RESULTS A total of 207 men completed the study . During the study , lean body mass increased and fat mass decreased in the testosterone group compared with the placebo group but these factors were not accompanied by an increase of functional mobility or muscle strength . Cognitive function and bone mineral density did not change . Insulin sensitivity improved but high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased ; by the end of the study , 47.8 % in the testosterone group vs 35.5 % in the placebo group had the metabolic syndrome ( P = .07 ) . Quality -of-life measures were no different except for one hormone-related quality -of-life measure that improved . No negative effects on prostate safety were detected . CONCLUSION Testosterone supplementation during 6 months to older men with a low normal testosterone concentration did not affect functional status or cognition but increased lean body mass and had mixed metabolic effects . TRIAL REGISTRATION is rct n.org Identifier : IS RCT N23688581 The objective of this study was to assess the effects of oral testosterone supplementation therapy on glucose homeostasis , obesity and sexual function in middle-aged men with type 2 diabetes and mild and rogen deficiency . Forty-eight middle-aged men , with type 2 diabetes , ( visceral ) obesity and symptoms of and rogen deficiency , were included in this open-label study . Twenty-four subjects received testosterone undecanoate ( TU ; 120 mg daily , for 3 months ) ; 24 subjects received no treatment .  Body composition was analyzed by bio-impedance . Parameters of metabolic control were determined . Symptoms of and rogen deficiency and erectile dysfunction were scored by self-administered question naires . TU had a positive effect on ( visceral ) obesity : statistically significant reduction in body weight ( 2.66 % ) , waist-hip ratio ( -3.96 % ) and body fat ( -5.65 % ) ; negligible changes were found in the control group . TU significantly improved metabolic control : decrease in blood glucose values and mean glycated hemoglobin ( HbA1c ) ( from 10.4 to 8.6 % ) . TU treatment significantly improved symptoms of and rogen deficiency ( including erectile dysfunction ) , with virtually no change in the control group . There were no adverse effects on blood pressure or hematological , biochemical and lipid parameters , and no adverse events . Oral TU treatment of type 2 diabetic men with and rogen deficiency  improves glucose homeostasis and body composition ( decrease in visceral obesity ) , and improves symptoms of and rogen deficiency ( including erectile dysfunction ) . In these men , the benefit of testosterone supplementation therapy exceeds the correction of symptoms of and rogen deficiency and also includes glucose homeostasis and metabolic control OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of testosterone supplementation on bone , body composition , muscle , physical function , and safety in older men . DESIGN Double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial . SETTING A major medical institution . PARTICIPANTS One hundred thirty-one men ( mean age 77.1 + /- 7.6 ) with low testosterone , history of fracture , or bone mineral density ( BMD ) T-score less than -2.0 and frailty . INTERVENTION Participants received 5 mg/d of testosterone or placebo for 12 to 24 months ; all received calcium ( 1500 mg/d diet and supplement ) and cholecalciferol ( 1,000 IU/d ) . MEASUREMENTS BMD of hip , lumbar spine , and mid-radius ; body composition ; sex hormones , calcium-regulating hormones ; bone turnover markers ; strength ; physical performance ; and safety parameters . RESULTS Ninety-nine men ( 75.6 % ) completed 12 months , and 62 ( 47.3 % ) completed end therapy ( mean 23 months ; range 16 - 24 months for 62 who completed therapy ) . Study adherence was 54 % , with 40 % of subjects maintaining 70 % or greater adherence . Testosterone and bioavailable testosterone levels at 12 months were 583 ng/dL and 157 ng/dL , respectively , in the treatment group . BMD on testosterone  increased 1.4 % at the femoral neck and 3.2 % at the lumbar spine ( P=.005 ) and decreased 1.3 % at the mid-radius ( P<.001 ) . There was an increase in lean mass and a decrease in fat mass in the testosterone group but no differences in strength or physical performance . There were no differences in safety parameters . CONCLUSION Older , frail men receiving  testosterone replacement increased testosterone levels and had favorable changes in body composition , modest changes in axial BMD , and no substantial changes in physical function Although decline in sexual function is a common reason for ageing men to seek advice regarding testosterone therapy , placebo-controlled trial data have been unable to show a consistent , beneficial role for testosterone . The objective of this study was to determine the effect of testosterone therapy on sexual function in non-obese ageing men with symptoms of and rogen deficiency and low – normal serum testosterone levels . A total of 60 men aged 55 years or older in good general health with total testosterone ( TT ) levels < 15 nM , and with symptoms suggestive of and rogen deficiency , were r and omized in a double-blinded protocol to transdermal testosterone patches or placebo for 12 months  . Sexual function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function at weeks 0 , 26 and 52 . In men receiving testosterone TT levels increased by 30 % ( P=0.01 ) and luteinizing hormone decreased by 50 % ( P<0.001 ) . Relative to placebo , testosterone therapy improved sexual desire ( P=0.04 ) ; however other parameters of sexual function including erectile function were unaffected by the treatment . Ageing men in good general health and with symptoms of and rogen deficiency and low – normal serum testosterone levels receiving 12 months of transdermal testosterone therapy experienced , relative to placebo , improved sexual desire but no effect on other parameters of sexual function OBJECTIVE One of the factors that may promote deterioration in quality of life and body composition in elderly men is the relative decline in serum testosterone levels with aging . In this study , we assessed the effects of modest doses of testosterone and a home-based strengthening program on quality of life and body composition in elderly men with relative testosterone insufficiency . DESIGN Double-blind , placebo-controlled r and omized study ( testosterone ) , and additional r and omization to a resistance exercise program or no additional exercise for 12 weeks in men between ages of 65 and 85 years with relative testosterone insufficiency . METHODS Seventy sedentary , community dwelling men were r and omized to a 5 mg testoderm transdermal system applied daily vs placebo system , and additionally r and omized to a home-based resistance exercise program . Subjects were r and omized to Group 1 ( testosterone plus exercise ) , Group 2 ( testosterone plus no exercise ) , Group 3 ( placebo plus exercise ) , and Group 4 ( placebo plus no exercise ) . Endpoints included quality of life ( assessed by the short form-36 question naire ) and body composition ( measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry scan ) . RESULTS Serum testosterone  increased by a mean of 10.0 + /- 1.9 , 6.6 + /- 1.6 , 0.52 + /- 0.6 , and 0.5 + /- 0.6 nmol/l in Groups 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4 respectively . There was a significant interaction of testosterone and exercise on quality of life in the domains of physical functioning ( P = 0.03 ) , role physical ( P = 0.01 ) , general health ( P = 0.049 ) , and social functioning ( P = 0.04 ) . There were no effects of testosterone or exercise on quality of life alone , nor in body composition parameters . CONCLUSIONS Modest testosterone supplementation to elderly men with relative testosterone insufficiency improved quality of life when accompanied by an exercise program . The combination of testosterone and exercise may be an important strategy in the elderly , though further studies are necessary to determine the long-term impact on body composition and function and for analysis of risk/benefit ratios as well Serum testosterone levels decline significantly with aging and this has been associated with reduced sexual function . We have conducted a double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of testosterone supplementation on sexual function in 237 elderly men with a testosterone level < 13.7 nmol l−1 . Participants were r and omly assigned to receive oral testosterone undecanoate or a placebo for 6 months . A total of 207 men completed the study . After treatment , there were no differences in scores on sexual function between the groups . Sub analysis showed that although a baseline testosterone level in the lowest tertile was associated with significantly lower scores for sexual fantasies , desire of sexual contact and frequency of sexual contact , supplementation of testosterone did not result in improvement on any of these items in this group . In conclusion , the findings do not support the view that testosterone undecanoate supplementation for 6 months to elderly men with low-normal testosterone concentrations favorably affects sexual function BACKGROUND Relative and rogen deficiency in ageing males is assumed to have adverse health effects . This study assessed the effect of 12 months ' st and ard dose , oral testosterone , on symptoms attributed to testosterone deficiency in older men with plasma testosterone levels in the low-normal range for young men . METHODS Testosterone undecanoate ( TU , 80 mg bid ) or placebo was administered for one year to 76 healthy men , 60 years or older , with a free testosterone index ( FTI ) of 0.3 - 0.5 and significant symptoms on a question naire design ed to evaluate and rogen deficiency ( ADAM ) . The ADAM was completed at baseline , 6 and 12 months . Hormone and safety data were collected at baseline , 1 , 3 , 6 and 12 months . RESULTS After 12 months , plasma total testosterone was unchanged in both groups and sex hormone binding globulin decreased in the testosterone group ( P = 0.01 ) . FTI and calculated bioavailable testosterone ( cBT ) were greater in the testosterone group as compared with the placebo group ( P = 0.021 and 0.025 , respectively ) . There was no significant difference in total symptom score between testosterone and placebo groups after 12 months of oral TU . However , there were trends toward improvements in sadness/grumpiness ( P = 0.063 ) , reduced erection strength ( P = 0.059 ) and decreased work performance symptoms ( P = 0.077 ) , particularly in men with baseline cBT levels below 3.1 nmol/l . CONCLUSIONS This study concludes that 80 mg bid oral TU does not improve overall ADAM question naire scores  in older men with low-normal gonadal status . Oral TU may preserve mood and erectile function , as assessed by this question naire , particularly in men with the lowest testosterone levels BACKGROUND This study assessed the feasibility of a 12-week program of exercise , with and without intramuscular testosterone supplementation , in male patients with chronic heart failure ( CHF ) and low testosterone status and collected preliminary data for key health outcomes . METHODS Male patients with CHF ( n = 41 , age 67.2 years , range 51 - 84 years ) with mean ± SD testosterone levels of 10.7 ± 2.6 nmol/L ( 309 ± 76 ng/dL ) were r and omly allocated to exercise with testosterone or placebo groups . Feasibility was assessed in terms of recruitment , intervention compliance , and attrition . Outcomes included an incremental shuttle walk test , peak oxygen uptake , muscular strength , echocardiographic measures , N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide , inflammatory markers , depression ( Beck Depression Inventory ) , and health-related quality of life ( Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Question naire and Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form ) . RESULTS Attrition was 30 % but with 100 % compliance to exercise and injections in patients who completed the study . Similar improvements in shuttle walk test ( 18 % vs 19 % ) , body mass ( -1.3 kg vs -1.0 kg ) , and h and grip strength ( 2.1 kg vs 2.5 kg ) from baseline were observed in both groups . The exercise with testosterone group showed improvements from baseline in peak oxygen uptake ( P < .01 ) , Beck Depression Inventory ( P < .05 ) , leg strength ( P < .05 ) , and several Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form quality of life domains ( P < .05 ) , which were generally not apparent in the exercise with placebo group . Echocardiographic measures , N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide , and inflammatory markers were mostly unchanged . CONCLUSIONS This study shows for the first time that testosterone supplementation during a program of exercise rehabilitation is feasible and can positively impact on a range of key health outcomes in elderly male patients with CHF who have a low testosterone status Introduction : This study investigated the effects of testosterone ( T ) treatment on cognition , mood , and quality of life in men with mild cognitive impairment ( MCI ) and low serum T levels . Methods : A total of 351 community-dwelling men were screened , and 37 men evidence d both MCI and low T of whom 27 agreed for further screening . Twenty-two met all the study inclusion /exclusion criteria and enrolled in a 6-month r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study . Results : Total T levels significantly increased in the T treatment group . No significant changes were observed in measures of cognition , mood , or quality of life other than improvement in 1 objective measure of verbal memory ( P < .05 ) and decreased depression symptoms ( P < .02 ) in the treatment group . Conclusions : Testosterone treatment may modestly improve verbal memory and depression symptoms in men with both MCI and low CONTEXT Physical frailty is associated with reduced muscle strength , impaired physical function , and quality of life .  Testosterone ( T ) increases muscle mass and strength in hypogonadal patients . It is unclear whether T has similar effects in intermediate-frail and frail elderly men with low to borderline-low T. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine the effects of 6 months T treatment in intermediate-frail and frail elderly men , on muscle mass and strength , physical function , and quality of life . DESIGN AND SETTING We conducted a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled , parallel-group , single-center study . PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPANTS were community-dwelling intermediate-frail and frail elderly men at least 65 yr of age with a total T at or below 12 nmol/liter or free T at or below 250 pmol/liter . METHODS Two hundred seventy-four participants were r and omized to transdermal T ( 50 mg/d ) or placebo gel for 6 months . Outcome measures included muscle strength , lean and fat mass , physical function , and self-reported quality of life . RESULTS Isometric knee extension peak torque improved in the T group ( vs. placebo at 6 months ) , adjusted difference was 8.6 ( 95 % confidence interval , 1.3 - 16.0 ; P = 0.02 ) Newton-meters . Lean body mass increased and fat mass decreased significantly in the T group by 1.08 + /- 1.8 and 0.9 + /- 1.6 kg , respectively . Physical function improved among older and frailer men . Somatic and sexual symptom scores decreased with T treatment ; adjusted difference was -1.2 ( -2.4 to -0.04 ) and -1.3 ( -2.5 to -0.2 ) , respectively . CONCLUSIONS T treatment in intermediate-frail and frail elderly men with low to borderline-low T for 6 months may prevent age-associated loss of lower limb muscle strength and improve body composition , quality of life , and physical function . Further investigations are warranted to extend these results BACKGROUND It has been suggested that cognitive changes in response to T supplementation may occur within an ideal range . The objective of this study was to compare the cognitive responses of older , eugonadal men in whom moderate or large increases in serum testosterone levels was induced by exogenous testosterone supplementation .  DESIGN R and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study with subsequent grouping of participants according to average increase in circulating T from baseline . SETTING Community dwelling participants . PARTICIPANTS Fifty-seven healthy , eugonadal , community dwelling male volunteers , mean age 67 years ( + /-11 years ) . INTERVENTIONS Participants were r and omized to receive weekly intramuscular ( i.m . ) injections of either 50 , 100 or 300 mg T enanthate or placebo ( saline ) injection for 6 weeks . Cognitive evaluations using a battery of neuropsychological tests were conducted at baseline , weeks 3 and 6 of treatment and after 6 weeks of wash-out . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Performance on cognitive tests of verbal and spatial memory . RESULTS Men with moderate increases in serum T and /or its metabolites demonstrated significant improvements in verbal and spatial memory . In contrast , men with large or low increases in circulating T levels , failed to demonstrate significant changes in memory . CONCLUSION These results suggest that in healthy older men , beneficial changes in cognitive function induced by T supplementation are most evident with moderate changes in cognition from moderate to high T supplementation increases in T levels . Large or no to low increases in T levels do not appear to appreciably effect cognition CONTEXT Aging in men is associated with reduced testosterone ( T ) levels and physiological changes leading to frailty , but the benefits of T supplementation are inconclusive . OBJECTIVE We studied the effects of T supplementation with and without progressive resistance training ( PRT ) on functional performance , strength , and body composition . DESIGN , SETTING , AND PARTICIPANTS We recruited 167 generally healthy community-dwelling older men ( 66 ± 5 years ) with low-normal baseline total T levels ( 200 - 350 ng/dL ) . INTERVENTION Subjects were r and omized to placebo or transdermal T gel [ 2 doses targeting either a lower ( 400 - 550 ng/dL ) or higher ( 600 - 1000 ng/dL ) T range ] and to either PRT or no exercise for 12 months . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The primary outcome was functional performance , whereas secondary outcomes were strength and body composition . RESULTS A total of 143 men completed the study . At 12 months , total T was 528 ± 287 ng/dL in subjects receiving any T and 287 ± 65 ng/dL in the placebo group . In the PRT group , function and strength were not different between T- and placebo-treated subjects , despite greater improvements in fat mass ( P = .04 ) and fat-free mass ( P = .01 ) with T. In the non-PRT group , T did not improve function but improved fat mass ( P = .005 ) , fat-free mass ( P = .03 ) , and upper body strength ( P = .03 ) compared with placebo . There were fewer cardiovascular events in the T-treated groups compared with placebo . CONCLUSIONS T supplementation was well tolerated and improved body composition but had no effect on functional performance . T supplementation improved upper body strength only in nonexercisers compared with placebo BACKGROUND A large proportion of men over 65 years of age have bioavailable testosterone levels below the reference range of young adult men . The impact of this on musculoskeletal health and the potential for improvement in function in this group with testosterone supplementation require investigation . METHODS Sixty-seven men ( mean age 76 + /- 4 years , range 65 - -87 ) with bioavailable testosterone levels below 4.44 nmol/l ( lower limit for adult normal range ) were r and omized to receive transdermal testosterone  ( two 2.5-mg patches per day ) or placebo patches for 1 year . All men received 500 mg supplemental calcium and 400 IU vitamin D. Outcome measures included sex hormones ( testosterone , bioavailable testosterone , sex-hormone binding globulin [ SHBG ] , estradiol , and estrone ) , bone mineral density ( BMD ; femoral neck , Ward 's triangle , trochanter , lumbar spine , and total body ) , bone turnover markers , lower extremity muscle strength , percent body fat , lean body mass , hemoglobin , hematocrit , prostate symptoms , and prostate specific antigen ( PSA ) levels . RESULTS Twenty-three men ( 34 % ) withdrew from the study ; 44 men completed the trial . In these men , bioavailable testosterone levels increased from 3.2 + /- 1.2 nmol/l ( SD ) to 5.6 + /- 3.5 nmol/l ( p < .002 ) at 12 months in the testosterone group , whereas no change occurred in the control group . Although there was no change in estradiol levels in either group , estrone levels increased in the testosterone group ( 103 + /- 26 pmol/l to 117 + /- 33 pmol/l ; p < .017 ) . The testosterone group had a 0.3 % gain in femoral neck BMD , whereas the control group lost 1.6 % over 12 months ( p = .015 ) . No significant changes were seen in markers of bone turnover in either group . Improvements in muscle strength were seen in both groups at 12 months compared with baseline scores . Strength increased 38 % ( p = .017 ) in the testosterone group and 27 % in the control group ( p = .06 ) , with no statistical difference between the groups . In the testosterone group , body fat decreased from 26.3 + /- 5.8 % to 24.6 + /- 6.5 % ( p = .001 ) , and lean body mass increased from 56.2 + /- 5.3 kg to 57.2 + /- 5.1 kg ( p = .001 ) , whereas body mass did not change . Men receiving testosterone had an increase in PSA from 2.0 + /- 1.4 microg/l to 2.6 + /- 1.8 microg/l ( p = .04 ) , whereas men receiving placebo had an increase in PSA from 1.9 + /- 1.0 microg/l to 2.2 + /- 1.5 microg/l ( p = .09 ) . No significant differences between groups were seen in hemoglobin , hematocrit , symptoms or signs of benign prostate hyperplasia , or PSA levels . CONCLUSIONS Transdermal testosterone ( 5 mg/d ) prevented bone loss at the femoral neck , decreased body fat , and increased lean body mass in a group of healthy men over age 65 with low bioavailable testosterone levels . In addition , both testosterone and placebo groups demonstrated gains in lower extremity muscle strength , possibly due to the beneficial effects of vitamin D. Testosterone did result in a modest increase in PSA levels but result ed in no change in signs or symptoms of prostate hyperplasia Objective : To determine the efficacy of testosterone ( T ) supplementation on cognition in a sample of men with Alzheimer disease ( AD ) or mild cognitive impairment ( MCI ) . Methods : Fifteen patients with AD and 17 patients with MCI aged 63 to 85 years completed a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study . Nineteen participants received weekly intramuscular ( IM ) injections of 100 mg T enanthate and 13 participants received weekly injections of placebo ( saline ) for 6 weeks . Cognitive evaluations using a battery of neuropsychological tests were conducted at baseline , week 3 , and week 6 of treatment and again after 6 weeks of washout . Results : Peak serum total T levels were raised from baseline an average of 295 % in the active treatment group . Improvements in spatial memory ( p < 0.05 ) and constructional abilities ( p < 0.05 ) and verbal memory were evident in the T group . No changes were noted for selective and divided attention or language . Prostate specific antigen did not significantly change during this brief treatment . Conclusion : Testosterone supplementation may benefit selective cognitive functions in men with Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment Objective : To determine the relationship between exogenous testosterone administration and cognitive abilities in a population of healthy older men . Background : Serum levels of total and bioavailable testosterone gradually decrease with age in men and are associated with reductions in muscle mass , osteoporosis , decreased sexual activity , and changes in cognition . Methods : Twenty-five healthy , community-dwelling volunteers , aged 50 to 80 years , completed a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study . Participants received weekly intramuscular injections of either 100 mg testosterone enanthate or placebo ( saline ) for 6 weeks . Cognitive evaluations were conducted at baseline , week 3 , and week 6 of treatment by use of a battery of neuropsychologic tests . Results : Circulating total testosterone was raised an average of 130 % from baseline at week 3 and 116 % at week 6 in the treatment group . Because of aromatization of testosterone , estradiol increased an average of 77 % at week 3 and 73 % at week 6 in the treatment group . Significant improvements in cognition were observed for spatial memory ( recall of a walking route ) , spatial ability ( block construction ) , and verbal memory ( recall of a short story ) in older men treated with testosterone compared with baseline and the placebo group , although improvements were not evident for all measures . Conclusions : The results suggest that short-term testosterone administration enhances cognitive function in healthy older men . However , it remains unclear whether these improvements in cognition are attributable to increased testosterone or estradiol levels , or both . The potential role of testosterone vs its metabolites on cognition requires further research OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this study was to assess the effect of a 6-month testosterone supplementation therapy on functional capacity and insulin resistance in female patients with chronic heart failure ( CHF ) . BACKGROUND Patients with CHF show decreased exercise capacity and insulin sensitivity . Testosterone supplementation improves these variables in men with CHF . No study has evaluated the effects of testosterone supplementation on female patients with CHF . METHODS Thirty-six elderly female patients with stable CHF , ( ejection fraction 32.9 ± 6 ) were r and omly assigned ( 2:1 ratio ) to receive testosterone transdermal patch ( T group , n = 24 ) or placebo ( P group , n = 12 ) , both on top of optimal medical therapy . At baseline and after 6 months , patients underwent  6-min walking test  ( 6MWT ) , cardiopulmonary exercise test , echocardiogram , quadriceps maximal isometric voluntary contraction , dynamic quadriceps isokinetic strength ( peak torque ) , and insulin resistance assessment by homeostasis model . RESULTS Distance walked at 6MWT as well as peak oxygen consumption significantly improved in the T group , whereas they were unchanged in the P group ( p < 0.05 for all comparisons ) . The homeostasis model was significantly reduced in the T group in comparison with the P group ( -16.5 % vs. + 5 % , respectively ; p < 0.05 ) . Maximal voluntary contraction and peak torque increased significantly in the T group but did not change in the P group . Increase in distance walked at 6MWT was related to the increase in free testosterone levels ( r = 0.593 , p = 0.01 ) . No significant changes in echocardiographic parameters were observed in either group . No side effects requiring discontinuation of T were detected . CONCLUSIONS Testosterone supplementation improves functional capacity , insulin resistance , and muscle strength in women with advanced CHF .  Testosterone seems to be an effective and safe therapy for elderly women with CHF
The effect of testosterone supplementation on BMD and the risk of falls or fracture remains inconclusive .
However , supplementation may benefit patients in the areas of sexual function and quality of life without increasing the risk of cardiovascular events , all-cause mortality , or prostatic events .
Testosterone deficiency ( TD ) may induce a series of clinical symptoms .
Studies have shown that testosterone supplementation may prevent these unfavourable symptoms and improve patients ’ quality of life .
Given the conflicting findings across studies , this systematic review aims to evaluate the effects and risks associated with testosterone supplementation in middle-aged or aging males with TD .