Efficacy of Testosterone Replacement Therapy Combined With Exercise on Body Composition in Hypogonadal Men

We assessed the efficacy of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) combined with exercise on body composition in hypogonadal men.

Two hundred-fourteen patients were enrolled. All patients were divided into four groups: patients with exercise habits who received TRT (T + E group; n = 59), those without exercise habits who received TRT (T group; n = 52), those with exercise habits who did not receive TRT (E group; n = 57), those without exercise and TRT (control group; n = 46). Exercise habits were defined as performing any exercises for 30 min or more at least twice a week. TRT was administered via intramuscular testosterone enanthate (250 mg) injection for one year. Data on age, current medical histories, and comorbidities were collected. Height, weight, body fat percentage, body mass index, lean body mass (LBM), waist circumference, and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were measured at the initial visit, as well as 6 and 12 months after the initiation of medical interventions.

Patients in the T group were significantly younger and had significantly higher free testosterone levels than those in the other groups. In the T + E group, body fat percentage significantly decreased at the 6-month visit. A significant increase in LBM and FFMI was observed at 6 and 12 months after TRT initiation in this group, whereas these parameters did not show significant improvement in the other three groups.

TRT for one year contributed to significant increases in LBM and FFMI among hypogonadal men with exercise habits, although no significant improvement was observed with exercise or TRT alone.