Effects of androgen supplementation therapy on partial androgen deficiency in the aging male: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the responses of a symptom complex related to partial androgen deficiency in the aging male (PADAM) to androgen supplementation.


METHODS
Eighty-six men from five hospitals in Beijing aged 50-70 years with symptoms related to PADAM received oral testosterone undecanoate for 2 months, and the effects of the therapy were evaluated.


RESULTS
After treatment, the symptom scores were significantly improved (all p < 0.001). Serum levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone were suppressed, and free testosterone and albumin-bound testosterone levels were elevated. However, they were not significantly different from the pretreatment values. Waist/hip ratio and blood pressure were markedly decreased, but no changes were found in serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin and prostate specific antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
Two months of treatment with oral testosterone undecanoate clearly improved the symptoms related to PADAM. No statistical relationship was found between symptom improvement and androgen levels. Androgen therapy for 2 months was beneficial to the waist/hip ratio and blood pressure, and no harm was done to the prostate gland or lipid metabolism.
Li
J Y
JY
Department of Endocrinology, Beijing 301 Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, People's Republic of China.
Zhu
J C
JC
Dou
J T
JT
Bai
W J
WJ
Deng
S M
SM
Li
M
M
Huang
W
W
Jin
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D002681:China; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013739:Testosterone; C010792:testosterone undecanoate