Oral testosterone supplementation and chronic low-grade inflammation in elderly men: a 26-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
To determine the effect of oral testosterone supplementation on systemic low-grade inflammation measured by high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in aging men with low testosterone levels.


METHODS
Two hundred thirty-seven men aged 60 to 80 years with a testosterone level of <13.7 nmol/L (below the 50th percentile of the population distribution) were recruited into a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Participants were randomized to either 4 capsules of 40 mg testosterone undecanoate (Andriol Testocaps, NV Organon, Oss, The Netherlands) or placebo daily for 26 weeks. Serum levels of hs-CRP were measured at baseline and at 26 weeks using a near-infrared particle immunoassay of the Synchron LX System (Beckman Coulter, Fullteron, CA).


RESULTS
The median baseline hs-CRP level was 1.95 mg/L (0.30-6.43) in the testosterone group compared with 1.90 mg/L (0.40-5.91) in the placebo group. After 26 weeks of testosterone supplementation therapy, the 2 intervention groups were not statistically significantly different (median hs-CRP 2.20 vs 2.00 mg/L, interquartile range 0.40-6.54 vs 0.50-5.70, P = .36). In subgroup analysis, neither baseline testosterone level, nor age, nor baseline CRP-level modified the effect of testosterone supplementation on CRP levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral testosterone undecanoate supplementation, in dosage of 160 mg daily for 26 weeks, does not increase hs-CRP levels in elderly men.
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Hamid Reza
HR
Nakhai-Pour
Diederick E
DE
Grobbee
Marielle H
MH
Emmelot-Vonk
Michiel L
ML
Bots
Harald J J
HJ
Verhaar
Yvonne T
YT
van der Schouw
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013739:Testosterone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C010792:testosterone undecanoate