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Review
. 2018 May;36(2):110-122.
doi: 10.5534/wjmh.182001. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

Testosterone Replacement, Muscle Strength, and Physical Function

You Seon Nam  1 , Gyeongsil Lee  2 , Jae Moon Yun  2 , Belong Cho  1   2   3   4
Affiliations
Review

Testosterone Replacement, Muscle Strength, and Physical Function

You Seon Nam et al. World J Mens Health. 2018 May.

Abstract

Muscle strength and physical function decrease in older men, as do testosterone levels. Nonetheless, the effects of testosterone replacement therapy on muscle strength and physical function remain inconclusive and equivocal. We conducted a rapid systematic review, the results of which showed that testosterone replacement does not affect muscle strength (measured by hand grip strength and leg muscle strength), although it may increase physical function (measured by the 6-minute walk test, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly score, and other physical performance tests). However, most of the studies were conducted in the United States or Europe and did not include participants from Asian or other ethnic backgrounds; therefore, further studies are needed to evaluate the effects of testosterone replacement in a broader population.

Keywords: Aged; Muscle strength; Physical activity; Testosterone.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Forest plot showing the weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for hand grip strength in kilograms as derived from available randomized controlled trials on the effect of testosterone replacement therapy vs. placebo.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Forest plot showing standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for leg muscle strength as derived from available randomized controlled trials on the effect of testosterone replacement therapy vs. placebo.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Forest plot showing weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the 6-minute walk test in meters as derived from available randomized controlled trials on the effect of testosterone replacement therapy vs. placebo.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. Forest plot showing weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE) scale as derived from available randomized controlled trials on the effect of testosterone replacement therapy vs. placebo.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5. Forest plot showing standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for physical performance test scores as derived from available randomized controlled trials on the effect of testosterone replacement therapy vs. placebo.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. SR: systematic review, RCT: randomized controlled trial.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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