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Androgens in Health and Disease.pdf - E Library

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Chapter 13/<strong>Androgens</strong> <strong>and</strong> Body Composition 243<br />

13<br />

<strong>Androgens</strong> <strong>and</strong> Body Composition<br />

Laurence Katznelson, MD<br />

CONTENTS<br />

INTRODUCTION<br />

TESTOSTERONE AND MALE HYPOGONADISM<br />

TESTOSTERONE ADMINISTRATION IN HYPOGONADAL MEN<br />

TESTOSTERONE ADMINISTRATION TO EUGONADAL MEN<br />

ARE THERE APPLICATIONS OF TESTOSTERONE IN CHRONIC ILLNESS?<br />

TESTOSTERONE AND WOMEN: ENDOGENOUS EFFECTS<br />

AND POTENTIAL USES<br />

CONCLUSIONS<br />

REFERENCES<br />

INTRODUCTION<br />

Ever s<strong>in</strong>ce the cl<strong>in</strong>ical availability of <strong>and</strong>rogens, it has been noted that <strong>and</strong>rogens<br />

modulate body composition, lead<strong>in</strong>g to enhanced lean <strong>and</strong> dim<strong>in</strong>ished fat mass. <strong>Androgens</strong><br />

have received particular attention with regard to improv<strong>in</strong>g body composition not<br />

only <strong>in</strong> normal populations but also <strong>in</strong> those with chronic illness with associated<br />

sarcopenia. For example, improvements <strong>in</strong> muscle mass follow<strong>in</strong>g testosterone adm<strong>in</strong>istration<br />

have been shown <strong>in</strong> sarcopenic states such as ag<strong>in</strong>g, cancer, <strong>and</strong> human immunodeficiency<br />

virus (HIV) wast<strong>in</strong>g, although the implications of these changes with regard<br />

to function have not been well documented. The effects of <strong>and</strong>rogens on fat mass have<br />

also generated much <strong>in</strong>terest because of the potential effects of <strong>and</strong>rogens <strong>in</strong> modulat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

cardiovascular risk. Additionally, there is excitement about the application of <strong>and</strong>rogens<br />

to women because of the potential for beneficial effects on body composition <strong>in</strong> women<br />

with hypopituitarism <strong>and</strong> menopause. This chapter will provide an overview regard<strong>in</strong>g<br />

both physiologic <strong>and</strong> supraphysiologic testosterone adm<strong>in</strong>istration on body composition<br />

<strong>in</strong> eugonadal <strong>and</strong> hypogonadal <strong>in</strong>dividuals, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g those with sarcopenia <strong>in</strong> the sett<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of chronic illness or ag<strong>in</strong>g. The potential applications of testosterone adm<strong>in</strong>istration <strong>in</strong><br />

these populations will be reviewed.<br />

TESTOSTERONE AND MALE HYPOGONADISM<br />

The rationale for <strong>in</strong>vestigat<strong>in</strong>g the effects of testosterone adm<strong>in</strong>istration on body<br />

composition stems from cross-sectional studies that associate altered adipose deposition<br />

From: Contemporary Endocr<strong>in</strong>ology: <strong>Androgens</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Disease</strong><br />

Edited by: C. Bagatell <strong>and</strong> W. J. Bremner © Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ<br />

243

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