Latest Updates - December 2011

• Long-acting testosterone undecanoate (TU) injection, but not oral TU, improves metabolic parameters
  This randomized, double-blind, double-dummy study was the first clinical trial to compare the efficacy and safety of long-term testosterone replacement therapy using two different preparations of testosterone undecanoate (TU), in hypogonadal men with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).¹

• Endocrine aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of male sexual dysfunction: new ISSM Guidelines
  This article is a summary of the report by the Endocrine Aspects of Male Sexual Dysfunctions international experts Committee aimed to provide guidelines based on best evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine-related male sexual dysfunction.¹

• The addition of testosterone therapy improves erectile function in hypogonadal men who fail to respond to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5-I) therapy alone
  This study aimed to confirm that testosterone replacement therapy (Testogel®, Androgel®) improved erectile function in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) who were nonresponders to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is).
• Meta-analysis supports association between metabolic syndrome and hypogonadism; testosterone replacement therapy may improve metabolic control and reduce central obesity
  A systematic review and meta-analysis of available prospective and cross-sectional studies comparing androgen levels in men with or without metabolic syndrome (MetS) was performed to analyse the relationship between androgen levels and MetS.
• Testosterone replacement therapy improves body composition, insulin resistance and markers of atherosclerosis in men with low testosterone and metabolic syndrome
  Effects of testosterone undecanoate on cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in middle-aged men with late-onset hypogonadism and metabolic syndrome: results from a 24-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
• Low testosterone is common in men with coronary heart disease and negatively impacts survival  
  A total of 930 men (mean age 61 years) were followed in a prospective cohort study for a mean of 6.9 years to determine the prevalence of testosterone deficiency and to investigate the effect of serum testosterone levels on survival in men with confirmed coronary disease.
• Study shows testosterone (T) improves body composition and hip bone mineral density in elderly men with low T 
  Testosterone treatment in elderly men with subnormal testosterone levels improves body composition and BMD in the hip. J Svartberg, I Agledahl, Y Figenschau, T Sildnes, K Waterloo and R Jorde. International Journal of Impotence Research. 2008:20;378–387.
• Testosterone with diet and exercise reverses Metabolic Syndrome and improves glycemic control in hypogonadal men with newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes 
  Fifty-two week treatment with diet and exercise plus transdermal testosterone reverses the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and improves glycemic control in men with newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes and subnormal plasma testosterone. AE Heufelder, F Saad, M Bunck, and L Gooren. November/December 2009. Journal of Andrology;30:(6);726-733.
• Largest international trial indicates that testosterone replacement therapy is an effective and well tolerated treatment for male hypogonadism in daily clinical practice 
  IPASS: Final data from the worldwide largest study of the tolerability and effectiveness of injectable testosterone undecanoate (TU) for the treatment of male hypogonadism involving 1493 patients. M Zitzmann, JU Hanisch, A Mattern, M Maggi. A presentation to the Men’s Health World Congress, 2010.
• Exercise performance in men with stable angina improved by testosterone over 12 month period 
  Long term benefits of testosterone replacement therapy on angina threshold and atheroma in men.
• Testosterone improves depression and quality of life scores in hypogonadal men 
  Effects of testosterone supplementation on depressive symptoms and sexual dysfunction in hypogonadal men with the metabolic syndrome.
• Testosterone improves functional performance in elderly men with chronic heart failure 
  Effect of long-acting testosterone treatment on functional exercise capacity, skeletal muscle performance, insulin resistance, and baroreflex sensitivity in elderly patients with chronic heart failure.
• Testosterone reduces visceral fat and increases muscle mass in non-obese men aged ≥55 years  
  Testosterone therapy prevents gain in visceral adipose tissue and loss of skeletal muscle in nonobese aging men. Allan CA, Strauss BJG, Burger HG, Forbes EA, McLachlan RI. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008;93(1):139-146
• Testogel reduces fat and improves body composition and quality of life scores  
  Testosterone therapy improves body composition and quality of life in men with late-onset hypogonadism: A large, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Bouloux P-M, Kelly J, Hiemeyer F. The Aging Male 2008; 11(1):1-41.