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 .
Testosterone improves rehabilitation outcomes in ill older men.
OBJECTIVES To determine whether testosterone supplementation improves rehabilitation outcomes in ill older men . DESIGN A r and omized , placebo-controlled , double-blind study . SETTING A Geriatric Evaluation and Management ( GEM ) unit based at a university- affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center . PARTICIPANTS Fifteen men aged 65 to 90 years admitted to the GEM for rehabilitation . INTERVENTION Subjects were r and omized to receive weekly intramuscular injections with testosterone enanthate 100 mg or placebo . MEASUREMENTS Task-specific performance using the Functional Independence Measure ( FIM ) and grip strength was measured at the onset of the study and at the time of discharge from the GEM . RESULTS At baseline , FIM scores were similar between the placebo and the testosterone group ( 73.7 vs 70.7 , P = .637 ) , as was grip strength ( 49.7 vs 55.3 pounds , P = .555 ) . At discharge from the GEM , testosterone-treated patients had improved FIM scores compared with baseline ( 93.6 vs 70.7 ; P = .012 ) and grip strength ( 68.7 vs 55.3 pounds ; P = .033 ) . In the placebo group there was no significant improvement of FIM scores compared with baseline ( 78.0 versus 73.7 ; P = .686 ) or of grip strength ( 48.9 vs 49.7 pounds ; P = .686 ) . CONCLUSIONS Testosterone supplementation may improve rehabilitation outcomes in ill older men
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 .