Conclusions The effects of testosterone on cardiovascular-related events varied with source of funding .
Nevertheless , overall and particularly in trials not funded by the pharmaceutical industry , exogenous testosterone increased the risk of cardiovascular-related events , with corresponding implication s for the use of testosterone therapy
Background Testosterone therapy is increasingly promoted .
No r and omized placebo-controlled trial has been implemented to assess the effect of testosterone therapy on cardiovascular events , although very high levels of and rogens are thought to promote cardiovascular disease .
Double-blind placebo-controlled study of testosterone patch therapy on bone turnover in men with borderline hypogonadism.
Clinical studies suggest there may be a threshold concentration of serum testosterone below which replacement will result in skeletal and psychological benefit . We evaluated the response to testosterone in men with borderline hypogonadism . A r and omized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in 39 men over age 40 years presenting with sexual dysfunction and a borderline low testosterone level ( total testosterone < 10 nmol/L or free and rogen index < 30 % ) . Patients were r and omized to Testoderm TTS body patch ( 5 mg/day , n = 20 ) or a placebo patch ( n = 19 ) for 6 months , followed by open-label testosterone replacement for a further 6 months in all patients . During the placebo-controlled phase of the study serum testosterone increased significantly on testosterone vs. placebo treatment ( p = 0.004 ) ; this was associated with a decrease in total body fat mass ( p = 0.019 ) and increase in haemoglobin level ( p = 0.036 ) . There were no significant changes in lean body mass , markers of bone turnover , and measures of bone mineral density ( BMD ) . There was evidence of difference in quality of life according to the Male Erectile Dysfunction Quality of Life question naire ( MEDQoL score , p = 0.017 ) , mainly accounted for by deterioration in the placebo arm . When the active treatment period was combined for placebo and testosterone groups , the within-patient analysis showed a significant effect of testosterone to decrease markers of bone resorption ( uNTX/Cr , p = 0.007 ; iFDPD/Cr , p = 0.0006 ) and to increase lean body mass ( p = 0.001 ) . There was little convincing evidence from this study that testosterone replacement is likely to have major benefit in men over age 40 years with borderline hypogonadism and sexual dysfunction . However , there was evidence of suppression in bone resorption and hence longer and larger studies are needed to examine its effect on BMD
Conclusions The effects of testosterone on cardiovascular-related events varied with source of funding .
Nevertheless , overall and particularly in trials not funded by the pharmaceutical industry , exogenous testosterone increased the risk of cardiovascular-related events , with corresponding implication s for the use of testosterone therapy
Background Testosterone therapy is increasingly promoted .
No r and omized placebo-controlled trial has been implemented to assess the effect of testosterone therapy on cardiovascular events , although very high levels of and rogens are thought to promote cardiovascular disease .