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 .
Impact of long-term testosterone treatment on plasma levels of free TFPI and TF-induced thrombin generation ex vivo in elderly men with low testosterone levels.
Men have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) than women of similar age , and it has been suggested that testosterone may influence the development of CVD . Recently , we demonstrated that elderly men with low testosterone levels had lower plasma levels of free tissue factor pathway inhibitor ( TFPI ) Ag associated with shortened tissue factor (TF)-induced coagulation initiation in a population based case-control study . Our hypothesis was that one year of testosterone treatment to physiological levels in elderly men would increase the levels of free TFPI Ag in plasma and have a favorable effect on TF-induced coagulation .  Twenty-six men with low testosterone levels ( < or = 11.0 nM ) were r and omly assigned to treatment with intramuscular testosterone depot injections ( testosterone undecanoate 1,000 mg ) or placebo in a double-blinded study . Each participant received a total of five injections , at baseline , 6 , 16 , 28 and 40 weeks , and TF-induced thrombin generation ex vivo and plasma free TFPI Ag were measured after one year . At the end of the study total and free testosterone levels were significantly higher in the testosterone treated group ( 14.9 + /- 4.5 nM vs. 8.1 + /- 2.4 nM ; p < 0.001 , and 363.3 + /- 106.6 pM vs. 187.3 + /- 63.2 pM ; p < 0.001 , respectively ) . Testosterone treatment for one year did neither cause significant changes in TF-induced thrombin generation ex vivo nor changes in plasma levels of free TFPI Ag . In conclusion , normalising testosterone levels by testosterone treatment for 12 months in elderly men did not affect TF-induced coagulation or plasma TFPI levels . The potential antithrombotic role of testosterone therapy remains to be eluci date
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 .