Introduction: As testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) use increases, its role on cardiovascular health must be explored. However, the effect of testosterone in cardiovascular health remains unclear. We evaluated the lipid profile changes with TRT in the population with testosterone deficiency syndrome.
Material and methods: We performed a retrospective observational study in 230 male patients (mean age 60.1 years) with testosterone deficiency syndrome between 2007 and 2012 at the Asan Medical Center. Testosterone was replaced in hypogonadal patients by regular intramuscular injection (long acting testosterone undecanoate, 1,000 mg) every 3 month at least for 1 year. The parameters estimated at the time of diagnosis, 6 and 12 months after TRT were: total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TGs), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
Results: Total cholesterol was significantly decreased after 6 months by TRT compared to before TRT (183.7±33.9, 175.5±33.1, P=0.001). Triglycerides was also significantly decreased after 6 months (147.2±84.1, 131.2±62.7, P=0.009). TC and TGs were decreased after 12 months. However, there were no changes in LDL-C at 6 months (114.2±27.7, 110.2±30.1, P=0.44) and 12 months (114.2±27.7, 110.8±25.7, P=0.159) after TRT. The change was not found in HDL-C at 6 and 12 months (50.2±13.7, 50.1±14.6, 49.5±13.9). There was no increase in PSA with treatment at 6 months, however the increase was found at 12 months (0.85±0.58, 1.17±1.2, P=0.002).
Conclusions: TRT has the efficacy to reduce total cholesterol and triglycerides. But LDL-C and HDL-C were not changed at 6 and 12 months after TRT.
