Testosterone boost may help men with lung disease
Key points
- Men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - which includes a number of lung problems such as emphysema that make breathing difficult - may benefit from an extra dose of testosterone, a new study indicates.
- People with COPD are often easily fatigued and can't tolerate much physical exertion, probably because of loss of muscle strength.
- Testosterone supplementation appears to increase lean muscle mass and strength in men with moderate to severe COPD and low testosterone levels, California-based researchers report in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
- "Patients with chronic lung disease have been found to benefit from rehabilitative therapies aimed at improving the function of their muscles.
Men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - which includes a number of lung problems such as emphysema that make breathing difficult - may benefit from an extra dose of testosterone, a new study indicates.
People with COPD are often easily fatigued and can't tolerate much physical exertion, probably because of loss of muscle strength.
Testosterone supplementation appears to increase lean muscle mass and strength in men with moderate to severe COPD and low testosterone levels, California-based researchers report in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
"Patients with chronic lung disease have been found to benefit from rehabilitative therapies aimed at improving the function of their muscles. This research suggests the anabolic drug testosterone improves muscle strength," Dr. Richard Casaburi told Reuters Health.
Casaburi of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Torrance, and colleagues investigated the effects of testosterone supplementation in a study of 47 men with COPD and low normal testosterone levels.
The participants were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: testosterone supplementation and strength training; placebo and strength training; testosterone and no strength training; or placebo and no strength training.
After 10 weeks, both testosterone groups showed a significant increase in lean body mass. This amounted to an average increase of 2.3 kilograms (about 5 pounds) in those given testosterone alone and 3.3 kg (a little more than 7 pounds) in those who received training and testosterone.
Moreover, the team found that maximum leg press strength increased 17 percent with either testosterone alone or training alone, but by 27 percent with both. No adverse effects were seen.
Despite these encouraging results, "further research in a larger number of patients is needed before we can routinely recommend testosterone supplementation for men with COPD," Casaburi cautioned.
SOURCE: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, October 15, 2004.
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
Explore health topics
More in this topic
Lungs, Asthma & Allergies →NewsEnzyme's alter ego helps activate the immune system
Already known to cut proteins, the enzyme SPPL3 turns out to have additional talents, according to a new study from Johns Hopkins. In its newly discovered role, SPPL3 works without cutting proteins to activate T cells,…
30 December 2014
NewsNon-Gluten proteins identified as targets of immune response to wheat in celiac disease
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have found that, in addition to gluten, the immune systems of patients with celiac disease react to specific types of non-gluten protein in wheat. The results were…
16 December 2014
NewsVitamin C may help people who suffer from respiratory symptoms after exercise
Physical activity increases oxidative stress, and therefore, as an antioxidant vitamin C might have particularly evident effects on people who are participating in vigorous exercise. In several studies, vitamin C…