Low-Dose Testosterone and Evoked Resistance Exercise after Spinal Cord Injury on Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors: An Open-Label Randomized Clinical Trial

• DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6136
• Publication Date: 2019-02-22T14:40:51Z
• Authors: Ashraf S. Gorgey; Refka E. Khalil; Ranjodh Gill; David R. Gater; Timothy D. Lavis; Christopher P. Ca...; Robert A. Adler
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Adolescent; Transdermal Patch; Resistance Training; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Androgens; Body Composition; Humans; Testosterone; Basal Metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal; Spinal Cord Injuries

The purpose of the work is to investigate effects low-dose testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and evoked resistance training (RT) on body composition metabolic variables after spinal cord injury (SCI). Twenty-two individuals with chronic motor complete SCI (ages 18-50 years) were randomly assigned either TRT+RT (n = 11) or TRT for 16 weeks following a 4 -week delayed entry period. men underwent twice weekly progressive RT using electrical stimulation ankle weights. was administered via patches (2-6 mg/day). Body tested anthropometrics, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, magnetic resonance imaging. After an overnight fast, basal rate (BMR), lipid panel, serum testosterone, adiponectin, inflammatory anabolic biomarkers (insulin-like growth factor-1 insulin-like factor-binding protein 3 [IGFBP-3]), glucose effectiveness (Sg), insulin sensitivity (Si) measured. Total lean mass (LM; 2.7 kg, p < 0.0001), whole muscle (p knee extensor cross-sectional areas (CSAs; 0.0001) increased in group, no changes group. Visceral adiposity decreased 0.049) trend 0.07) There 0.050) 14-17% increase BMR TRT+RT. Sg showed improvement by 28.5-31.5% both interventions. IGFBP-3 while IL-6 0.039) interventions, suppressed adiponectin 0.024). resulted LM thigh CSAs, adiponectin. Low-dose may mediate modest visceral adipose tissue, Sg, IGFBP-3, IL-6, independent LM.