Hormonal
Long-term DHEA or low-dose testosterone replacement in elderly people with low androgen levels does not produce clinically relevant improvements in body composition, physical performance, insulin sensitivity, or quality of life.
If you are an older adult with low hormone levels, taking DHEA or testosterone patches for 2 years will not make you stronger, fitter, or metabolically healthier, nor will it improve your quality of life. While testosterone might add a tiny amount of fat-free mass in men, it does not translate to better muscle strength or function. The treatment is safe regarding prostate health in this context, but it does not deliver the 'anti-aging' benefits often marketed.
Neither DHEA nor low-dose testosterone replacement in elderly people has physiologically relevant beneficial effects on body composition, physical performance, insulin sensitivity, or quality of life.
Why this rating
Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study with a long duration (2 years) and rigorous methodology.
Source
DHEA in Elderly Women and DHEA or Testosterone in Elderly Men
K. Sreekumaran Nair et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 2006
DOI 10.1056/nejmoa054629
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