Testosterone Effects on Bone and Frailty

National Institute on Aging (NIA)140 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of testosterone replacement on bone density, muscle strength, physical performance, quality of life and prostate symptoms in men selected for low bone mineral density or fracture and some aspect of frailty.

The hypothesis being tested is that testosterone supplementation can increase bone mineral density and specific parameters of frailty in older men with osteoporosis and characteristics of frailty. One hundred and eighty men, age 60 years and older, who have sustained a hip fracture or other fragility fracture following mild to moderate trauma (such as a fall from standing height) in the previous 5 years or who have low femoral neck bone mineral density plus a component of frailty (weight loss, perception of exhaustion, physical strength, physical activity level and walking time) will be randomly assigned to receive either testosterone or placebo, delivered by topical gel applied daily, in a two year double-blind study. Bone mineral density (BMD) by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), will be performed at baseline and yearly to assess changes in BMD. Blood and urine samples will be collected at baseline and yearly; these tests will be correlated to changes in BMD. To determine the effects of testosterone on frailty, strength of the upper and lower extremities will be measured every 6 months using the hand-held dynamometer and sitting leg press, respectively. Changes in lean body mass and percent body fat will be measured by total body DXA at baseline, 6 months and then annually. In addition, physical performance, emotional and sexual function, and disability will be assessed also. The safety of testosterone supplementation on prostate and cardiovascular parameters will also be monitored; participants will be screened for prostate cancer at baseline, 6 months then yearly for 2 years. Fasting lipoprotein levels will be measured yearly while on testosterone replacement, and cardiovascular specific adverse effects such as angina, myocardial infarction, stroke and sudden death will be tracked.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

140

Conditions

Aging Frailty Osteoporosis

Interventions

testosteroneDRUG

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Men over age 60 years who have sustained a femoral fracture in the preceding 3 years * Total testosterone levels below 375 ng/dl or bioavailable testosterone levels at least 1.5 SD lower than the young adult mean * Able to come or be brought to the University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC) for outpatient visits Exclusion Criteria: * Prostate specific antigen level over 4.0 ng/dl or the history of prostate cancer * Disease of bone metabolism (i.e., Paget's disease, osteomalacia, hyperparathyroidism) * History of pituitary disease * History of sleep apnea * Consumption of more than 3 alcoholic drinks/day * Use of androgen, estrogen, or DHEA in the preceding year * Use of antiresorptive agents such as calcitonin or bisphosphonates * Metastatic or advanced cancer * Current chemotherapy or radiation treatment * Plans to move in the next three years * Advanced liver or renal disease such that the subjects is unlikely to complete the three year intervention * Hemaglobin \>16.5 g/dl * Bilateral hip replacement or repair

Locations (1)

Center on Aging, University of Connecticut Health Center

Farmington, Connecticut, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Bone density and strength

Secondary Outcomes

Physical performance

quality of life

cognition

lipids

prostate specific antigen

prostate symptoms

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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