Skip to main content

Lessons From the Testosterone Trials.

Citation
Snyder, P. J., et al. “Lessons From The Testosterone Trials.”. Endocrine Reviews, pp. 369-386.
Center University of Alabama at Birmingham
Author Peter J Snyder, Shalender Bhasin, Glenn R Cunningham, Alvin M Matsumoto, Alisa J Stephens-Shields, Jane A Cauley, Thomas M Gill, Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, Ronald S Swerdloff, Christina Wang, Kristine E Ensrud, Cora E Lewis, John T Farrar, David Cella, Raymond C Rosen, Marco Pahor, Jill P Crandall, Mark E Molitch, Susan M Resnick, Matthew Budoff, Emile R Mohler, Nanette K Wenger, Harvey Jay Cohen, Stanley Schrier, Tony M Keaveny, David Kopperdahl, David Lee, Denise Cifelli, Susan S Ellenberg
Abstract

The Testosterone Trials (TTrials) were a coordinated set of seven placebo-controlled, double-blind trials in 788 men with a mean age of 72 years to determine the efficacy of increasing the testosterone levels of older men with low testosterone. Testosterone treatment increased the median testosterone level from unequivocally low at baseline to midnormal for young men after 3 months and maintained that level until month 12. In the Sexual Function Trial, testosterone increased sexual activity, sexual desire, and erectile function. In the Physical Function Trial, testosterone did not increase the distance walked in 6 minutes in men whose walk speed was slow; however, in all TTrial participants, testosterone did increase the distance walked. In the Vitality Trial, testosterone did not increase energy but slightly improved mood and depressive symptoms. In the Cognitive Function Trial, testosterone did not improve cognitive function. In the Anemia Trial, testosterone increased hemoglobin in both men who had anemia of a known cause and in men with unexplained anemia. In the Bone Trial, testosterone increased volumetric bone mineral density and the estimated strength of the spine and hip. In the Cardiovascular Trial, testosterone increased the coronary artery noncalcified plaque volume as assessed using computed tomographic angiography. Although testosterone was not associated with more cardiovascular or prostate adverse events than placebo, a trial of a much larger number of men for a much longer period would be necessary to determine whether testosterone increases cardiovascular or prostate risk.

Year of Publication
2018
Journal
Endocrine reviews
Volume
39
Issue
3
Number of Pages
369-386
Date Published
12/2018
ISSN Number
1945-7189
DOI
10.1210/er.2017-00234
Alternate Journal
Endocr. Rev.
PMID
29522088
PMCID
PMC6287281
Download citation