A new placebo controlled study of the use of testosterone undecanoate to prevent type 2 diabetes in older obese men found it reduced the risk by 40%. The study was presented at the recent meeting of the American Diabetes Association, the abstract is online. There is also an article about the study in the Australian Financial Review, from which the quote below is taken. The study was conducted in Australia. The article says:
The world’s largest study on testosterone suggests it may play a role in decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes in men, following two years of treatment with the hormone.
The results of the Australia-wide study were presented overnight at a virtual conference of the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.
In the study, 1000 men at high risk of diabetes were enrolled in a diet and exercise program provided by WW (formerly Weight Watchers). Half were given testosterone injections and half placebo injections.
At the end of the study, those on testosterone were 40 per cent less likely to have diabetes.
“I want to emphasize this is not a signal to rush for the script pad. It is far more important to deal with the basic underlying issues of shedding excess weight, eating well and doing resistance and aerobic activity to build muscle."
The study had encouraging and discouraging aspects. Encouragingly, both groups lost an average of four kilograms of weight but men on testosterone gained muscle mass while losing fat. They also gained small improvements in sexual function.
While fasting blood sugar was, on average, lower at the end of the study for both groups, the decrease was greater in the testosterone group.
Discouragingly, the most common side effect of testosterone was an increase in red blood cells, potentially leading to sludgy blood and clots. This occurred in 22 per cent of men on testosterone.
At the end of the study, 21 per cent of men on placebo had diabetes, compared with 12 per cent on testosterone.
The world’s largest study on testosterone suggests it may play a role in decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes in men, following two years of treatment with the hormone.
The results of the Australia-wide study were presented overnight at a virtual conference of the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.
In the study, 1000 men at high risk of diabetes were enrolled in a diet and exercise program provided by WW (formerly Weight Watchers). Half were given testosterone injections and half placebo injections.
At the end of the study, those on testosterone were 40 per cent less likely to have diabetes.
“I want to emphasize this is not a signal to rush for the script pad. It is far more important to deal with the basic underlying issues of shedding excess weight, eating well and doing resistance and aerobic activity to build muscle."
The study had encouraging and discouraging aspects. Encouragingly, both groups lost an average of four kilograms of weight but men on testosterone gained muscle mass while losing fat. They also gained small improvements in sexual function.
While fasting blood sugar was, on average, lower at the end of the study for both groups, the decrease was greater in the testosterone group.
Discouragingly, the most common side effect of testosterone was an increase in red blood cells, potentially leading to sludgy blood and clots. This occurred in 22 per cent of men on testosterone.
At the end of the study, 21 per cent of men on placebo had diabetes, compared with 12 per cent on testosterone.
