Testosterone administration to deficient older men did not affect atherosclerosis rates, sexual function, or health-related quality of life. (2015)
From the article:
Shalender Bhasin, M.B.B.S., of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, and colleagues randomly assigned 308 men 60 years or older with low or low-normal testosterone levels to receive 7.5 g of 1 percent testosterone (n = 156) or placebo (n = 152) gel packets daily for 3 years. The dose was adjusted to achieve testosterone levels between 500 and 900 ng/dL. Characteristics were similar between groups at study entry: patients were an average age of 68 years; 42 percent had hypertension; 15 percent, diabetes; 15 percent, cardiovascular disease; and 27 percent, obesity.
The researchers found that the rates of subclinical atherosclerosis progression, as measured by changes in common carotid artery intima-media thickness or coronary artery calcium, did not differ significantly between men assigned to the testosterone or placebo groups. Changes in intima-media thickness or calcium scores were not associated with change in testosterone levels among individuals assigned to receive testosterone.
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Sexual desire, erectile function, overall sexual function scores, partner intimacy, and health-related quality of life did not differ significantly between groups. Hematocrit (a measure of red blood cells) and prostate-specific antigen levels increased more in testosterone group.
The authors write that this trial was not designed to determine the effects of testosterone on CVD events, and that a substantially larger trial would be needed to determine this.