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 hypogonadism and testosterone administration on depression indices in HIV-infected men.
Hypogonadism is prevalent among human immunodeficiency virus-infected men , in whom significantly reduced quality of life and mood disturbances have been reported . Previous studies have not investigated the relationship between depression score and gonadal function among such patients . We first compared depression scores in  hypogonadal ( n = 52 ) and eugonadal ( n = 10 ) patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS ) wasting , matched for weight and disease status , and then investigated the effects of testosterone administration on depression score in a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study among the group of hypogonadal men with AIDS wasting . The primary end point in all comparisons was the Beck Depression Inventory .  Hypogonadal patients demonstrated significantly increased scores on the Beck inventory compared with eugonadal- , age- , weight- , and disease status-matched subjects ( 15.5+/-1.1 vs. 10.6+/-1.4 mean + /- SEM , P = 0.02 ) . Among the combined hypogonadal and eugonadal subjects , a significant inverse correlation was seen between the Beck score and both free ( r = 0.41 , P<0.01 ) and total serum testosterone levels ( r = -0.43 , P<0.001 ) . The relationship between the Beck score and testosterone levels remained highly significant , controlling for weight , viral load , CD4 count , and antidepressant use ( P<0.01 for free testosterone , P<0.001 for total testosterone ) . Furthermore , when subjects were divided into two groups , based on a Beck score greater than 18 or less than or equal to 18 , serum total and free testosterone levels were significantly lower in the subjects with a Beck score greater than 18 , whereas there were no differences in weight , viral load , CD4 count , or Karnofsky status . End of study data were available in 39 patients who completed the r and omized , placebo-controlled study . Beck score decreased significantly only in the subjects receiving testosterone ( -5.8+/-1.3 , P < 0.001 ) , but not in subjects r and omized to placebo ( -2.7+/-1.3 , P > 0.05 ) . In a regression analysis , the change in Beck score was related significantly to change in weight ( P<0.01 ) . These data demonstrate increased depression score in association with hypogonadism in men with AIDS wasting , independent of weight , virologic status , and other disease factors . In such patients , administration of testosterone results in a significant improvement in depression inventory score . This effect may be a direct effect of testosterone or related to positive effects of testosterone on weight and /or other anthropometric indices . Additional studies are needed to assess the effects of testosterone on clinical depression indices in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients
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 .