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Testosterone and resistance training improved physical performance and reduced fatigue in frail older men : 1 year follow-up of a randomized clinical trial

Rasmussen, Rune Skovgaard ; Midttun, Mette ; Zerahn, Bo ; Pedersen, Maria ; Rashid, Anahita ; Østergren, Peter Busch ; Paulin, Tine Kolenda LU orcid ; Pødenphanth, Thea Winther ; Karlsson, Linda Katharina and Rosendahl, Eva , et al. (2024) In The Aging Male 27(1).
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To improve health conditions among hypogonadal men ≥70 years of age using testosterone undecanoate (TU) injections, progressive strength training, and oral supplements of vitamin D, calcium, and protein.

METHODS: This study is a 1-year follow-up of a double-blind RCT lasting 20 weeks, including 148 older men ≥70 years old with low testosterone levels and mobility problems. During 52 weeks, 4 groups received either testosterone therapy (TU) or progressive resistance training (Training), both (Combo), or no intervention (Controls). Physiotherapists supported the training groups until week 20, while these participants continued trained on their own during weeks 21 to 52. The main outcome measure was the 30-s chair stand... (More)

OBJECTIVE: To improve health conditions among hypogonadal men ≥70 years of age using testosterone undecanoate (TU) injections, progressive strength training, and oral supplements of vitamin D, calcium, and protein.

METHODS: This study is a 1-year follow-up of a double-blind RCT lasting 20 weeks, including 148 older men ≥70 years old with low testosterone levels and mobility problems. During 52 weeks, 4 groups received either testosterone therapy (TU) or progressive resistance training (Training), both (Combo), or no intervention (Controls). Physiotherapists supported the training groups until week 20, while these participants continued trained on their own during weeks 21 to 52. The main outcome measure was the 30-s chair stand test.

RESULTS: The following numbers of participants completed the trial: 20 (Combo), 20 (Controls), 24 (TU), and 14 (Training). When examining 30-s chair stand test performance within each group at baseline, and at weeks 4, 20 and 52, only the Combo group improved (p = 0.001, Friedman Test). Compared to controls, only the Combo group experienced reduced fatigue and tiredness (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Fifty-two weeks of testosterone supplementation combined with progressive resistance training may enhance physical performance, alleviate fatigue, and had no notable detrimental impacts among males aged ≥70 suffering from mobility issues and testosterone insufficiency.Trial registration - Clinical Trials NCT02873559.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Humans, Male, Testosterone/therapeutic use, Aged, Resistance Training/methods, Double-Blind Method, Fatigue/drug therapy, Follow-Up Studies, Physical Functional Performance, Frail Elderly, Dietary Supplements, Aged, 80 and over, Hypogonadism/drug therapy, Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives, Androgens/therapeutic use
in
The Aging Male
volume
27
issue
1
article number
2403519
pages
16 pages
publisher
Informa Healthcare
external identifiers
  • scopus:85204512524
  • pmid:39289825
ISSN
1473-0790
DOI
10.1080/13685538.2024.2403519
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
2a36d04c-8c49-42b3-8fce-71ab47f922e2
date added to LUP
2026-06-26 14:53:16
date last changed
2026-10-05 11:31:29
@article{2a36d04c-8c49-42b3-8fce-71ab47f922e2,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVE: To improve health conditions among hypogonadal men ≥70 years of age using testosterone undecanoate (TU) injections, progressive strength training, and oral supplements of vitamin D, calcium, and protein.</p><p>METHODS: This study is a 1-year follow-up of a double-blind RCT lasting 20 weeks, including 148 older men ≥70 years old with low testosterone levels and mobility problems. During 52 weeks, 4 groups received either testosterone therapy (TU) or progressive resistance training (Training), both (Combo), or no intervention (Controls). Physiotherapists supported the training groups until week 20, while these participants continued trained on their own during weeks 21 to 52. The main outcome measure was the 30-s chair stand test.</p><p>RESULTS: The following numbers of participants completed the trial: 20 (Combo), 20 (Controls), 24 (TU), and 14 (Training). When examining 30-s chair stand test performance within each group at baseline, and at weeks 4, 20 and 52, only the Combo group improved (p = 0.001, Friedman Test). Compared to controls, only the Combo group experienced reduced fatigue and tiredness (p &lt; 0.05).</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Fifty-two weeks of testosterone supplementation combined with progressive resistance training may enhance physical performance, alleviate fatigue, and had no notable detrimental impacts among males aged ≥70 suffering from mobility issues and testosterone insufficiency.Trial registration - Clinical Trials NCT02873559.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rasmussen, Rune Skovgaard and Midttun, Mette and Zerahn, Bo and Pedersen, Maria and Rashid, Anahita and Østergren, Peter Busch and Paulin, Tine Kolenda and Pødenphanth, Thea Winther and Karlsson, Linda Katharina and Rosendahl, Eva and Ragle, Anne-Mette and Vinther, Anders and Overgaard, Karsten}},
  issn         = {{1473-0790}},
  keywords     = {{Humans; Male; Testosterone/therapeutic use; Aged; Resistance Training/methods; Double-Blind Method; Fatigue/drug therapy; Follow-Up Studies; Physical Functional Performance; Frail Elderly; Dietary Supplements; Aged, 80 and over; Hypogonadism/drug therapy; Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives; Androgens/therapeutic use}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Informa Healthcare}},
  series       = {{The Aging Male}},
  title        = {{Testosterone and resistance training improved physical performance and reduced fatigue in frail older men : 1 year follow-up of a randomized clinical trial}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13685538.2024.2403519}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13685538.2024.2403519}},
  volume       = {{27}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}