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 .
Effects of testosterone on skeletal muscle architecture in intermediate-frail and frail elderly men.
BACKGROUND Testosterone increases lean mass and may help to counter the changes in muscle architecture associated with sarcopenia . This study was design ed to investigate the effects of testosterone replacement therapy on skeletal muscle architecture in intermediate-frail and frail elderly men . METHODS A subgroup of 30 intermediate-frail and frail elderly men ( 65 - 89 years ) with low to borderline-low testosterone levels were enrolled from a single-center r and omized , double-blind placebo-controlled trial . Participants received either a transdermal testosterone ( 50 mg ) or placebo gel daily for 6 months . Architecture ( muscle thickness , fascicle length , and pennation angle ) of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle was assessed by ultrasound imaging at baseline and after 6 months of treatment .  RESULTS Serum testosterone  increased from 11.6 ± 3.5 to 18.0 ± 8.1 nmol/L by 10 days after r and omization in the active group ( but not the placebo group ) and was maintained throughout the treatment period . Testosterone treatment result ed in a preservation of muscle thickness at 6 months while it decreased in the placebo group ( effect size 1.4 [ 95 % confidence interval = 0.3 - 2.5 ; p = .015 ] ) . There was no significant effect of treatment on fascicle length ( effect size 1.9 mm [ 95 % confidence interval = -1.2 to 5.0 mm ; p = .22 ] ) or pennation angle ( effect size 1.2 ° [ 95 % confidence interval = -1.3 to 3.7 ° ; p = .32 ] ) . CONCLUSIONS Testosterone replacement in intermediate-frail and frail elderly men is associated with preservation of muscle thickness . The results suggest that testosterone mitigates sarcopenia by improving muscle tissue to maintain a state of normality in aging men
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 .