A major testosterone study published recently concluded that when men over 65 are given pharmaceutical testosterone to get their levels back to that of a much younger man, it boosts their libido, sexual activity and mood. The set of trials were funded by the National Institute on Aging and several other national institutes, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and is the first time a comprehensive, scientifically sound clinical trial has shown those benefits from testosterone.
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790 men were randomized to either use AndroGel testosterone gel or a topical placebo for one year. The men on AndroGel received just enough to boost their testosterone levels into the normal range for men between the ages of 19 and 40. The researchers then analyzed the effects on seven parameters: physical function, vitality, sexual function, cognitive function, anemia, cardiovascular health and bone health.
The researchers report the participants using AndroGel reported “significantly increased sexual activity” and desire, plus improved erectile function. They also said their mood improved slightly and that they noticed less severe depression while on testosterone. The only symptoms that didn’t improve were fatigue and physical function. The other key parameters, including heart and bone health, will be reported in future papers.
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Interestingly, the men who using the testosterone gel didn’t know what treatment they were on, but reported that they felt their overall health was much better. And when it came to side effects, there were no significant differences in heart attack, stroke and other adverse events between the testosterone group and the placebo group.
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But it’s important to know the caveats of the trials: First, the study was too small and too short to adequately measure side effects—the men were only treated for a year. Second, in order to be able to properly balance the risks of testosterone treatment with the benefits, physicians will need to wait for the rest of the results from the trials to be released. Third, a key fact that’s buried in the NEJM publication is that 63% of the participants in the trials were obese. Many critics of testosterone supplements point out that simply losing weight can help men naturally increase their own levels of the hormone.
