Androgen Treatment of Abdominally Obese Men

Abstract

Middle-aged men with abdominal obesity were treated in a double-blind study with moderate doses of transdermal preparations of testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), or placebo. This resulted in moderately elevated T concentrations and marked decreases in follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormones in the group treated with T, while the DHT group showed elevated DHT, markedly lower T values, and less diminution of gonadotropin concentrations. In the group treated with T visceral fat mass decreased (measured by computerized tomography) without significant changes in other depot fat regions. Lean body mass did not change. In the group treated with T, glucose disposal rate, measured with the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp method, was markedly augmented. Plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose concentrations as well as diastolic blood pressure decreased. There were no such changes in the DHT or placebo treatment groups. The men treated with T reported increased well-being and energy. In none of the groups did prostate volume, specific prostate antigen concentration, genito-urinary history, or urinary flow measurement change. It is suggested that supplementation of abdominal obese men with moderate doses of T might have several beneficial effects.

Testosterone therapy increased muscle mass and lipid oxidation in aging men

“…Correspondingly, a placebo-controlled, double-blinded study of aging men treated with HCG therapy to increase endogenous testosterone serum levels showed no increase in insulin sensitivity measured by the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp despite an increase in LBM (Liu et al 2003). On the other hand, two placebo-controlled, double-blinded studies have reported an increase in insulin sensitivity during testosterone therapy assessed by the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp in obese middle-aged men, in whom no predefined cutoff level for testosterone was used (Marin et al 1992;Marin et al 1993). In both studies, no significant increase in LBM was found.…”

Body composition, metabolic syndrome and testosterone in ageing men

“…89 Young, lean subjects did not demonstrate any change in insulin sensitivity across a wide range of serum testosterone levels in a dose-response study, despite a dose-related reduction in FM. 90 Centrally obese middle-aged men receiving testosterone showed an improvement in insulin sensitivity (by hyperinsulinaemic/euglycaemic clamp studies) and a lowering of serum insulin levels; 52 however, these results were not seen with DHT 53 or oxandrolone (when administered to a similarly obese cohort). 55 In ageing men, hCG administered for 3 months did not affect insulin sensitivity (as measured by euglycaemic clamp).…”

“…Testosterone supplementation (oral for 8 months, transdermal for 9 months) of middle-aged men with mean BMI 29 kg/m 2 and abdominal obesity (and serum testosterone levels within the normal range) decreased visceral adiposity by 5-10% (0.4-0.6 kg), as assessed by CT, although total body fat (by total body potassium calculations) and subcutaneous adipose tissue mass (by CT) did not change. 52,53 These findings were not able to be replicated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 54 and a further study of similar duration using intramuscular testosterone could not reproduce these results despite selecting for obese subjects. 55 Regional DEXA examinations in one study of older men showing significant loss of FM with testosterone treatment suggested that this loss was significant only in the appendices and not within the trunk.…”

Androgens and Body Fat Distribution in Men

“…M&i n et al (18) report in this issue of OBESITY RESEARCH that treatment of men with abdominal obesity, using moderate doses of testosterone delivered by a transdermal patch, will decrease visceral fat mass and improve glucose disposal, dyslipidemia, and diastolic blood pressure.…”

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E Xavier Pi-SunyerM&i n et al (18) report in this issue of OBESITY RESEARCH that treatment of men with abdominal obesity, using moderate doses of testosterone delivered by a transdermal patch, will decrease visceral fat mass and improve glucose disposal, dyslipidemia, and diastolic blood pressure.Abdominal obesity is associated with increased risk of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia. myocardial infarction, and stroke (23).

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