Testosterone supplementation did not show consistent benefit for cardiovascular risk , sexual function , mood and behavior , or cognition .
Studies that examined clinical cardiovascular endpoints have not favored testosterone therapy over placebo .
Testosterone is ineffective in treating erectile dysfunction and controlled trials did not show a consistent effect on libido .
Testosterone supplementation consistently increased muscle strength but did not have beneficial effects on physical function .
Most studies on mood-related endpoints found no beneficial effect of testosterone treatment on personality , psychological well-being , or mood .
Testosterone products are recommended by some prescribers in response to a diagnosis or presumption of " low testosterone " ( low-T ) for cardiovascular health , sexual function , muscle weakness or wasting , mood and behavior , and cognition .
Carnitine versus androgen administration in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, depressed mood, and fatigue associated with male aging.
OBJECTIVES To To compare testosterone undecanoate versus propionyl-L-carnitine plus acetyl-L-carnitine and placebo in the treatment of male aging symptoms . METHODS A total of 120 patients were r and omized into three groups . The mean patient age was 66 years ( range 60 to 74 ) . Group 1 was given testosterone undecanoate 160 mg/day , the second group was given propionyl-L-carnitine 2 g/day plus acetyl-L-carnitine 2 g/day . The third group was given a placebo ( starch ) . Drugs and placebo were given for 6 months . The assessed variables were total prostate-specific antigen , prostate volume , peak systolic velocity , end-diastolic velocity , resistive index of cavernosal penile arteries , nocturnal penile tumescence , total and free testosterone , prolactin , luteinizing hormone , International Index of Erectile Function score , Depression Melancholia Scale score , fatigue scale score , and incidence of side effects . The assessment was performed at intervals before , during , and after therapy . RESULTS Testosterone and carnitines significantly improved the peak systolic velocity , end-diastolic velocity , resistive index , nocturnal penile tumescence , International Index of Erectile Function score , Depression Melancholia Scale score , and fatigue scale score . Carnitines proved significantly more active than testosterone in improving nocturnal penile tumescence and International Index of Erectile Function score . Testosterone significantly increased the prostate volume and free and total testosterone levels and significantly lowered serum luteinizing hormone ; carnitines did not . No drug significantly modified prostate-specific antigen or prolactin . Carnitines and testosterone proved effective for as long as they were administered , with suspension provoking a reversal to baseline values . Only the group 1 prostate volume proved significantly greater than baseline 6 months after testosterone suspension . Placebo administration proved ineffective . Negligible side effects emerged . CONCLUSIONS Testosterone and , especially , carnitines proved to be active drugs for the therapy of symptoms associated with male aging
Testosterone supplementation did not show consistent benefit for cardiovascular risk , sexual function , mood and behavior , or cognition .
Studies that examined clinical cardiovascular endpoints have not favored testosterone therapy over placebo .
Testosterone is ineffective in treating erectile dysfunction and controlled trials did not show a consistent effect on libido .
Testosterone supplementation consistently increased muscle strength but did not have beneficial effects on physical function .
Most studies on mood-related endpoints found no beneficial effect of testosterone treatment on personality , psychological well-being , or mood .
Testosterone products are recommended by some prescribers in response to a diagnosis or presumption of " low testosterone " ( low-T ) for cardiovascular health , sexual function , muscle weakness or wasting , mood and behavior , and cognition .