Effects of Transdermal Testosterone Gel or an Aromatase Inhibitor on Prostate Volume in Older Men
Abstract
Context: T replacement is being increasingly offered to older men with age-related low T; hence, monitoring prostate health is important during T therapy. Data suggest that estrogens have an independent effect on the prostate and some effects of T on the prostate might be mediated via its aromatization to estradiol. Although some studies have assessed the effects of T replacement on prostate volume, the differential effects of T and estradiol have not been delineated.
Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the relative effects of T and estradiol on prostate volume in older men with low T.
Participants: Thirty-one men, 65 years old or older with total T less than 350 ng/dL (measured by mass spectrometry) participated in the study.
Intervention: The intervention included randomization to 5 g transdermal T gel (TT), 1 mg oral aromatase inhibitor (AI), or placebo daily for 12 months.
Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was prostate volume measured by transrectal ultrasound at baseline and 12 months. Secondary outcomes included prostate-specific antigen levels and lower urinary tract symptoms score.
Results: Serum T levels increased in both intervention groups; estradiol levels increased in the TT group, whereas it decreased in the AI group. At 12 months, prostate volume significantly increased (4.5 ± 1.76 cc, P < .05) only in the TT group. Increase in prostate-specific antigen levels were seen in both intervention groups at 6 months (P < .01 and P <…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
Read the paper
Related studies
- A Coupled SYSTEM of Intracellular Ca 2+ Clocks and Surface Membrane Voltage Clocks Controls the Timekeeping Mechanism of the Heart’s Pacemaker
- A Comprehensive Review on the Therapeutic Potential of Curcuma longa Linn. in Relation to its Major Active Constituent Curcumin
- Cancer epigenetics: Moving forward
- Current developments in LC-MS for pharmaceutical analysis
- Myricetin: A comprehensive review on its biological potentials
- A Computational Systems Biology Software Platform for Multiscale Modeling and Simulation: Integrating Whole-Body Physiology, Disease Biology, and Molecular Reaction Networks
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.