Hormonal
Testosterone replacement therapy increases fat-free mass, muscle size, and strength in hypogonadal men, even without resistance exercise training.
If you are a hypogonadal man, testosterone replacement therapy can significantly increase your muscle mass and strength, even if you do not engage in resistance exercise. The study used a standard replacement dose of 100 mg of testosterone enanthate weekly for 10 weeks. This resulted in an average increase of nearly 5 kg of fat-free mass and significant increases in muscle cross-sectional area. Ensure your testosterone levels are monitored by a healthcare provider.
Replacement doses of testosterone increase fat-free mass and muscle size and strength in hypogonadal men.
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial (though open-label and nonrandomized in design, it is a rigorous clinical study with controlled diet and exercise), small sample size (n=7), but high-quality measurements (MRI, underwater weighing).
Source
Testosterone Replacement Increases Fat-Free Mass and Muscle Size in Hypogonadal Men<sup>1</sup>
Shalender Bhasin et al. · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 1997
DOI 10.1210/jcem.82.2.3733
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