Hormonal
Oral testosterone supplementation (80 mg twice daily) increases lean body mass and decreases fat mass in healthy elderly men (aged 60+) with low-normal gonadal status over a 12-month period.
For older men with low-normal testosterone levels, oral testosterone therapy can effectively increase muscle mass and reduce body fat over a year. However, it does not necessarily improve muscle strength, and monitoring for side effects like increased hematocrit is crucial. This suggests that addressing hormonal deficits can be a viable strategy for managing body composition in aging, even without overt hypogonadism.
This study has demonstrated that a standard dose of oral testosterone undecanoate administered for 12 months to older men without overt hypogonadism increases muscle mass and decreases fat mass.
Why this rating
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a relatively large sample size (n=76) and long duration (12 months), though limited to a specific demographic.
Source
Oral Testosterone Supplementation Increases Muscle and Decreases Fat Mass in Healthy Elderly Males With Low-Normal Gonadal Status
Gary Wittert et al. · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · 2003
DOI 10.1093/gerona/58.7.m618
More from this paper
- Oral testosterone supplementation in elderly men with low-normal gonadal status leads to a significant decrease in High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.Good
- Oral testosterone supplementation in elderly men with low-normal gonadal status leads to a significant increase in hematocrit levels.Good
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