This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 29/1/102    most recent Author Manuscript (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Saad, F. Articles by Yassin, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Saad, F. Articles by Yassin, A.

A Dose-Response Study of Testosterone on Sexual Dysfunction and Features of the Metabolic Syndrome Using Testosterone Gel and Parenteral Testosterone Undecanoate

FARID SAAD^*,

LOUIS J. GOOREN

AHMAD HAIDER

AKSAM YASSIN^,||

^* Department of Men's Healthcare, Bayer-Schering, Berlin, Germany; the Gulf Medical College School of Medicine, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Urology Office, Bremerhaven, Germany; and the ^|| Department of Urology, Segeberger Kliniken, Norderstedt, Germany

Correspondence to: Dr Farid Saad, Bayer-Schering, Department of Men's Healthcare, 13342 Berlin, Germany (e-mail: farid.saad{at}bayerhealthcare.com).

The objective of this study was to observe the dose-response effects of testosterone (T) treatment on symptoms of sexual dysfunction and the metabolic syndrome. Two cohorts of elderly men with late-onset hypogonadism were followed over 9 months. Group 1, consisting of 28 men (mean age, 61 years; mean T level, 2.07 ± 0.50 ng/mL), received long-acting T undecanoate (TU; 1000 mg); group 2, composed of 27 men (mean age, 60 years; mean T level, 2.24 ± 0.41 ng/mL), received T gel (50 mg/day) for 9 months. In patients treated with T gel, plasma T levels rose from 2.24 ± 0.41 to 2.95 ± 0.52 (statistically significant) at 3 months, 3.49 ± 0.89 (statistically significant) at 6 months, and 3.80 ± 0.73 ng/mL at 9 months (T level at 6 months was compared with T level at 3 months). With TU, plasma T levels rose from 2.08 ± 0.56 to 4.81 ± 0.83 (statistically significant) at 3 months, 5.29 ± 0.91 at 6 months, and 5.40 ± 0.77 ng/mL at 9 months. With TU, the plasma T levels were statistically significantly higher than with T gel With TU, there was a greater improvement in sexual symptoms and in symptoms of the metabolic syndrome. With both treatments, changes in waist circumference correlated with changes in total, low-density, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Parameters of safety were not different between the 2 treatments. T administration had a beneficial effect on sexual dysfunction and symptoms of the metabolic syndrome in elderly men. The higher plasma levels of T generated with TU than with T gel were clearly more effective, indicating that there is a T dose-effect relationship.

     Key words: International index of erectile function, waist circumference, lipids, sex hormone–binding globulin, prostate safety, hematocrit.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. M. Traish, F. Saad, R. J. Feeley, and A. Guay The Dark Side of Testosterone Deficiency: III. Cardiovascular Disease J Androl, September 1, 2009; 30(5): 477 - 494. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. T. Guay The Emerging Link Between Hypogonadism and Metabolic Syndrome J Androl, July 1, 2009; 30(4): 370 - 376. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Traish, A. Guay, R. Feeley, and F. Saad The Dark Side of Testosterone Deficiency: I. Metabolic Syndrome and Erectile Dysfunction J Androl, January 1, 2009; 30(1): 10 - 22. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-A. Cornier, D. Dabelea, T. L. Hernandez, R. C. Lindstrom, A. J. Steig, N. R. Stob, R. E. Van Pelt, H. Wang, and R. H. Eckel The Metabolic Syndrome Endocr. Rev., December 1, 2008; 29(7): 777 - 822. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Kupelian, F. J. Hayes, C. L. Link, R. Rosen, and J. B. McKinlay Inverse Association of Testosterone and the Metabolic Syndrome in Men Is Consistent across Race and Ethnic Groups J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2008; 93(9): 3403 - 3410. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]