Testosterone dose-response relationships with cardiovascular risk markers in
androgen-deficient women: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Author(s): Huang G(1), Tang E, Aakil A, Anderson S, Jara H, Davda M, Stroh H, Travison TG,
Bhasin S, Basaria S.
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Section of Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (G.H., M.D., H.S., T.G.T., S.Bh.,
S.Ba.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston,
Massachusetts 02115; and Department of Radiology (E.T., A.A., S.A., H.J.), Boston
Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
02118.
Publication date & source: 2014, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. , 99(7):E1287-93
OBJECTIVE: To determine dose-dependent effects of T administration on
cardiovascular risk markers in women with low T levels.
METHODS: Seventy-one hysterectomized women with or without oophorectomy with
total T < 31 ng/dL and/or free T < 3.5 pg/mL received a standardized transdermal
estradiol regimen during the 12-week run-in period and were then randomized to
receive weekly im injections of placebo or 3-, 6.25-, 12.5-, or 25-mg T enanthate
for 24 weeks. Total and free T levels were measured by liquid
chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and equilibrium dialysis, respectively.
Insulin resistance and inflammatory markers were measured at baseline and 24
weeks. In a subset of women, magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen was
performed to quantify abdominal fat volume.
RESULTS: Fifty-nine women who completed the 24-week intervention were included in
the final analysis. The five groups were similar at baseline. Mean on-treatment
nadir total T concentrations were 14, 79, 105, 130, and 232 ng/dL in the placebo
group and the 3-, 6.25-, 12.5-, and 25-mg groups, respectively. No significant
changes in fasting glucose, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment of
insulin resistance, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, adiponectin, blood
pressure, and heart rate were observed at any T dose when compared to placebo.
Similarly, no dose- or concentration-dependent changes were observed in abdominal
fat on magnetic resonance imaging.
CONCLUSION: Short-term T administration over a wide range of doses for 24 weeks
in women with low T levels was not associated with worsening of cardiovascular
risk markers.
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