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 .
Effects of testosterone supplementation on whole body and regional fat mass and distribution in human immunodeficiency virus-infected men with abdominal obesity.
BACKGROUND Whole body and abdominal obesity are associated with increased risk of diabetes mellitus and heart disease . The effects of testosterone therapy on whole body and visceral fat mass in HIV-infected men with abdominal obesity are unknown . OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the effects of testosterone therapy on intraabdominal fat mass and whole body fat distribution in HIV-infected men with abdominal obesity . METHODS IN this multicenter , r and omized , placebo-controlled , double-blind trial , 88 HIV-positive men with abdominal obesity ( waist-to-hip ratio > 0.95 or mid-waist circumference > 100 cm ) and total testosterone 125 - 400 ng/dl , or bioavailable testosterone less than 115 ng/dl , or free testosterone less than 50 pg/ml on stable antiretroviral regimen , and HIV RNA less than 10,000 copies per milliliter were r and omized to receive 10 g testosterone gel or placebo daily for 24 wk . Fat mass and distribution were determined by abdominal computerized tomography and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry during wk 0 , 12 , and 24 . We used an intention-to-treat approach and nonparametric statistical methods . RESULTS Baseline characteristics were balanced between groups . In 75 subjects evaluated , median percent change from baseline to wk 24 in visceral fat did not differ significantly between groups ( testosterone 0.3 % , placebo 3.1 % , P = 0.75 ) . Total  ( testosterone -1.5 % , placebo 4.3 % , P = 0.04 ) and sc  ( testosterone-7.2 % , placebo 8.1 % , P < 0.001 ) abdominal fat mass decreased in testosterone-treated men , but increased in placebo group . Testosterone therapy was associated with significant decrease in whole body , trunk , and appendicular fat mass by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry ( all P < 0.001 ) , whereas whole body and trunk fat increased significantly in the placebo group . The percent of individuals reporting a decrease in abdomen ( P = 0.01 ) , neck ( P = 0.08 ) , and breast size ( P = 0.01 ) at wk 24 was significantly greater in testosterone-treated than placebo-treated men . Testosterone-treated men had greater increase in lean body mass than placebo ( testosterone 1.3 % , placebo -0.3 , P = 0.02 ) . Plasma insulin , fasting glucose , and total high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels did not change significantly . Testosterone therapy was well tolerated . CONCLUSIONS Testosterone therapy in HIV-positive men with abdominal obesity and low testosterone was associated with greater decrease in whole body , total , and sc abdominal fat mass and a greater increase in lean mass compared to placebo . However , changes in visceral fat mass were not significantly different between groups . Further studies are needed to determine testosterone effects on insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular risk
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 .