title: Effects of testosterone and progressive resistance exercise in healthy, highly functioning older men with low-normal testosterone levels.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aging in men is associated with reduced testosterone (T) levels and physiological changes leading to frailty, but the benefits of T supplementation are inconclusive.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We studied the effects of T supplementation with and without progressive resistance training (PRT) on functional performance, strength, and body composition.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 167 generally healthy community-dwelling older men (66 ± 5 years) with low-normal baseline total T levels (200-350 ng/dL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomized to placebo or transdermal T gel [2 doses targeting either a lower (400-550 ng/dL) or higher (600-1000 ng/dL) T range] and to either PRT or no exercise for 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome was functional performance, whereas secondary outcomes were strength and body composition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 143 men completed the study. At 12 months, total T was 528 ± 287 ng/dL in subjects receiving any T and 287 ± 65 ng/dL in the placebo group. In the PRT group, function and strength were not different between T- and placebo-treated subjects, despite greater improvements in fat mass (P = .04) and fat-free mass (P = .01) with T. In the non-PRT group, T did not improve function but improved fat mass (P = .005), fat-free mass (P = .03), and upper body strength (P = .03) compared with placebo. There were fewer cardiovascular events in the T-treated groups compared with placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T supplementation was well tolerated and improved body composition but had no effect on functional performance. T supplementation improved upper body strength only in nonexercisers compared with placebo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA. kerry.hildreth@ucdenver.edu
authors.forename: Kerry L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hildreth
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Kerrie L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vande Griend
authors.forename: Randall B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Meacham
authors.forename: Tammie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Wendy M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Kohrt
authors.forename: J Mark
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruscin
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kittelson
authors.forename: M Elaine
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cress
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ballard
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D055070:Resistance Training; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D034941:Upper Extremity
chemical_list: D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone