Testosterone treatment improves body composition and sexual function in men with COPD, in a 6-month randomized controlled trial

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a low-dose testosterone on body composition and pulmonary function, as well as on quality of life, sexuality, and psychological symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Twenty-nine men with moderate to severe COPD were allocated to receive either 250 mg of testosterone or placebo intra-muscularly, every fourth week, during the 26 weeks study period. Fat-free mass increased in the treatment group (P<0.05), and a significant difference between the treatment and the control group was seen after 26 weeks (P<0.05). Fat mass decreased in the treatment group (P<0.05), and there was a significant difference between the treatment and the control group after 12 weeks (P<0.01). A significantly better erectile function was reported in the treatment group at the final visit (P<0.05), and the overall sexual quality of life was significantly better in the treatment group after 12 weeks (P<0.05). No improvement in pulmonary function was found. In conclusion, administration of a low-dose testosterone to men with COPD for 26 weeks was associated with improvement of body composition, better erectile function and sexual quality of life. Furthermore, there were no clinical or biochemical side effects.

Effect of testosterone supplementation on sexual functioning in aging men: a 6-month randomized controlled trial

“…The results of our study are consistent with those of some others, 37,38 but other studies have shown positive results of supplementation of testosterone on sexual function. 16,17 A meta-analysis has shown that testosterone use may be associated with small improvements in erectile function and moderate improvement in libido in elderly men.…”

An Official American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society Statement: Update on Limb Muscle Dysfunction in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…Gains in muscle strength and mass in supplemented patients who undertook resistance training were even greater, suggesting a synergistic effect. Svartberg and colleagues compared testosterone supplementation with placebo in 29 men with COPD who were not selected or screened for biochemical hypogonadism at recruitment and did not present with low muscle mass (573). Testosterone was administered intramuscularly every 4 weeks for 26 weeks.…”

Réhabilitation respiratoire dans la broncho-pneumopathie chronique obstructive (BPCO) : l’androgénothérapie, pourquoi ? Pour qui ? Comment ?

“…Deux études ont évalué l'effet de la testostérone seule, c'est-à-dire non intégrée dans un programme de réhabilitation respiratoire, chez les patients BPCO [68,69] (Tableau 1). Un analogue de la testostérone, l'oxandrolone, a été donné par voie orale à un groupe de 128 patients ambulatoires (57 hommes et 71 femmes) BPCO GOLD II-III (capacité vitale forcée [CVF] < 50 %).…”

“…Dans un autre groupe de 29 patients ambulatoires de sexe masculin avec BPCO modérée à sévère (CVF < 60 %), la testostérone a été administrée par voie intramusculaire pendant 26 semaines avec des effets positifs sur la composition corporelle : masse non grasse augmentée de 1,1 kg et masse grasse diminuée de 1,5 % comparativement à l'état basal. Aucun effet n'était observé sur les paramètres respiratoires, tels que gaz du sang artériels, spirométrie, test de marche des 6 minutes et saturation en oxygène nocturne [69]. Néanmoins une amélioration de la fonction érectile et de la qualité de la vie sexuelle était rapportée.…”