Effects of long-term testosterone treatment on weight loss and waist size in obese men - is TRT the next obesity treatment?
Key Points
What is known
What this study adds
Figure from Saad et al. 2015 [13]
* Note: When interpreting the elevations in testosterone levels (total and free), one has to bear in mind that these reported levels are trough levels, i.e. the lowest level measured immediately before the next injection. Pharmacokinetic data show that after one injection of testosterone undecanoate it takes 9 days to reach Cmax (concentration maximum, i.e. the peak level) at 923 ng/dL (32 nmol/L), and 70.2 days for half of the injected testosterone dose to be eliminated from the body (i.e. t½ = elimination half-life, is 70.2 days).[40] Mean levels in the lower normal range – but significantly higher compared with baseline values – can be maintained until approximately 12 weeks after one injection.[40] While these pharmacokinetic data were derived in non-obese men - and will likely differ in obese men – it does give a rough guideline when interpreting testosterone levels during testosterone treatment.
The figures below illustrate graphically the reductions in waist circumference, weight, BMI and percent weight loss.
All obesity groups also experienced significant improvements in metabolic parameters; glycemic control (fasting glucose and HbA1c), lipids (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol:HDL ratio), liver transaminases, inflammation and blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) all improved. This was accompanied by a marked and significantly increased quality of life, regardless of obesity class.
Comparison to traditional obesity treatments
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