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 .
Beneficial effects of testosterone undecanoate on the lipoprotein profiles in healthy elderly men. A placebo controlled study.
BACKGROUND AND METHODS In order to assess the effects of testosterone undecanoate ( TU ; 120 mg/d orally for 2 months ) on serum lipid , lipoprotein , and apolipoprotein levels in healthy elderly men , the  placebo ( PL ) controlled study was performed on 37 elderly men , aged between 53 and 89 years . In all subjects venous blood sample s were taken after an overnight ( 10 hours ) fast and sera were stored -70 degrees C until analysis . RESULTS In PL group , neither hormonal data nor lipid , lipoprotein , and apolipoprotein levels showed significant changes . After TU supplementation , serum total cholesterol ( TC ) , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) , and estradiol ( E2 ) levels decreased from 198 + /- 30.7 mg/dl to 174 + /- 41.9 mg/dl ( p < 0.05 ) , from 111 + /- 18.14 mg/dl to 87.9 + /- 29.4 mg/dl ( p < 0.01 ) , and from 86.2 + /- 16.9 pmol/l to 70.5 + /- 18 pmol/l ( p < 0.01 ) , respectively . Statistically significant differences were not observed in the serum triglyceride ( TG ) , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) , and apolipoprotein ( apo ) A-1 and apo B levels after TU treatment . The mean ratios TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C as coronary risk factor criteria decreased significantly in the TU but not in the PL group . No obvious side effect was observed in those who took TU except for reported pyrosis in 2 of 17 elderly men . CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that the increased serum levels of total testosterone ( TT ) produced by administration of TU , 120 mg/d orally for 2 months lead to suppressed levels of TC and LDL-C and E2 but not significantly changed levels of TC , HDL-C , apo A-1 and apo B. Thus , we conclude that TU may be an effective drug for protecting coronary heart disease in healthy elderly men with lowered TT and FT levels . It may also have beneficial effects for sexual function and behavior
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 .