Effects of testosterone ointment in Japanese men with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

ABSTRACT The metabolic syndrome involves a cluster of clinical features including visceral obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia. Recent studies have shown that low testosterone levels are significantly associated with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. We examined the change in insulin resistance after testosterone treatment in 23 Japanese men with metabolic syndrome and low free testosterone levels. Testosterone supplements were administered by testosterone ointment (Glowmin,Daito Pharmaceutrical, Tokyo, Japan) for 3 to 6 months. Glowmin contains 10mg of testosterone per 1g of matrix. A 2-cm line of Glowmin was applied to the submandibular skin and contained a dosage of 3mg of testosterone and this was given twice a day in the morning and evening. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting serum insulin (F-IRI), HbA1c, total cholesterol(TCHO), triglyceride(TG), HDL-C, LDL-C, free testosterone, LH, FSH, BMI and waist circumference were measured. We used homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-R) as an index of insulin resistance and investigated the change in insulin resistance and lipid profiles after testosterone treatment. After treatment, F-IRI, HOMA-R, TCHO and LDL-C were significantly decreased from 17.3±6.2μIU/ml to 11.9±4.0μIU/ml, 4.70±1.86 to 3.09±1.20, 252±23mg/dl to 216±19mg/dl and 175±25mg/dl to 139±22mg/dl, respectively. Free testosterone was significantly increased from 5.7±1.0pg/ml to 9.1±1.4pg/ml. Other parameters were not changed significantly. In conclusion, these results suggest that testosterone replacement therapy by testosterone ointment improves insulin resistance in Japanese men with metabolic syndrome and low free testosterone levels. Disclosure Work supported by industry: no.