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 Testosterone Replacement in Middle-Aged Men With Dysthymia: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Mid-life onset male dysthymic disorder ( DD ) seems to be a distinct clinical condition with limited therapeutic options . Testosterone replacement is mood-enhancing and has been proposed as an antidepressant therapy , though this strategy has received limited systematic study . We therefore conducted a six-week double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial in 23 men with DD and with low or low-normal testosterone ( T ) level ( i.e , screening total serum testosterone < 350 ng/dL ) . Enrolled men were r and omized to receive intramuscular injections of 200 mg of testosterone cypionate or placebo every 10 days . The primary outcome measures were the Clinical Global Impression ( CGI ) improvement score and the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ( HDRS ) score . Twenty-three patients were r and omized . The mean ( SD ) age of the enrolled patients was 50.6 ( 7.0 ) years and that of total testosterone level was 339 ( 93 ) ng/dL. The median duration of the current dysthymic episode was 3.6 ( 2.3 ) years , and the mean ( SD ) HDRS was 14.0 ( 2.9 ) . After the intervention , the mean HDRS score decreased significantly more in the testosterone group ( 7.46 [ 4.56 ] ) than in the placebo group ( 1.8 [ 4.13 ] , t21 = −3.07 , P = 0.006 ) . Remission , defined as a CGI improvement score of 1 or 2 and a final HDRS score lower than 8 , was achieved by 7 ( 53.8 % ) of 13 in the testosterone group and 1 ( 10 % ) of 10 in the placebo group ( P = 0.03 ) . Testosterone replacement may be an effective antidepressant strategy for late-onset male dysthymia
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 .