ORAL TESTOSTERONE VERSUS TOPICAL TESTOSTERONE: LARGER DECREASES IN HDL

madman

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CHANGES IN METABOLIC PARAMETERS AND BONE MARKERS WITH ORAL VERSUS TOPICAL TESTOSTERONE (2022)
Fiona Yuen, Ronald S Swerdloff, Robert Dudley, and Christina Wang The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA; Clarus Therapeutics, Northbrook, IL


Background: Oral testosterone undecanoate (TU) was recently evaluated for safety and efficacy in an open-label study in comparison with topical testosterone (T).

Methods: Hypogonadal men 18-65 yrs were randomized to oral TU or topical T for approximately 4 months. The starting dose was 237 mg TU twice daily and 60 mg topical T daily. Doses were titrated on Days 21 and 56. P1NP, CTX, and fasting insulin levels from baseline and the last visit (mean 142 days) were analyzed using stored samples in a subset of participants without diabetes. Hematocrit, systolic blood pressure (average of 3 measurements), HDL-C, LDL-C, and fasting glucose were previously assayed and the data are now assessed for changes from baseline and differences between the two drugs using linear mixed model analyses. Outliers (>3 IQR from 25th or 75th percentile) were excluded from the analyses.

Results: 203 of 222 participants completed the study (154 oral, 49 topical). Total T increased in both groups with treatment (oral, baseline 207 to 489 ng/dL; topical, baseline 204 to 383 ng/dL). SBP (oral, 2.61 ± 11.86; topical, 1.88 ± 9.81 mmHg) and hematocrit increased (oral, 6.0 ± 7.5%; topical, 4.6 ± 6.4%). HDL-C (oral, - 14.2 ± 15.5%; topical, -2.4 ± 16.2%) and total cholesterol decreased (oral, -4.3 ± 16.5%; topical, -4.6 ± 12.0%) (all p<0.001). HDL-C decreased to a greater extent with oral TU (p<0.001). LDL-C increased with oral TU but decreased with topical T (oral, 6.3 ± 26.5%; topical, -1.5 ± 18.0%; p = 0.014); this result was not significant after Bonferroni correction. There were no significant changes in triglycerides, glucose, insulin, P1NP, and CTX.

Conclusion: Both formulations decreased HDL-C and total cholesterol and increased SBP and hematocrit. HDL-C decreased to a greater extent with oral TU. Metabolic changes should be assessed for longer durations in larger studies.
 

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Understanding Your Hormones

Estradiol (E2)

A form of estrogen produced from testosterone. Important for bone health, mood, and libido. Too high can cause side effects; too low can affect well-being.

DHT

Dihydrotestosterone is a potent androgen derived from testosterone. Affects hair growth, prostate health, and masculinization effects.

Free Testosterone

The biologically active form of testosterone not bound to proteins. Directly available for cellular uptake and biological effects.

Scientific Reference

Lakshman KM, Kaplan B, Travison TG, Basaria S, Knapp PE, Singh AB, LaValley MP, Mazer NA, Bhasin S. The effects of injected testosterone dose and age on the conversion of testosterone to estradiol and dihydrotestosterone in young and older men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Aug;95(8):3955-64.

DOI: 10.1210/jc.2010-0102 | PMID: 20534765 | PMCID: PMC2913038

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