Research

Hormonal

Testosterone supplementation in older men induces skeletal muscle hypertrophy and increases satellite cell number through the activation of the Notch signaling pathway and increased satellite cell replication.

For older men experiencing muscle loss, testosterone therapy (when medically indicated and monitored) can effectively rebuild muscle mass by activating satellite cells. This process relies on the body's natural repair mechanisms, which remain functional in older age, contrary to the belief that aging permanently disables muscle growth potential. Treatment requires medical supervision due to potential side effects.

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Testosterone-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy in older men is associated with increased satellite cell replication and activation.
Indrani Sinha‐Hikim et al. · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2006

Why this rating

Randomized controlled trial with dose-response design, though sample size for biopsy subgroups was small (n=36 total, fewer per dose).

Source

Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Fiber Hypertrophy and Satellite Cells in Community-Dwelling Older Men

Indrani Sinha‐Hikim et al. · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2006

DOI 10.1210/jc.2006-0357

rct · n=60Cited 313×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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