Monday Nov. 4, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Epidemiological studies have shown that low testosterone is associated with increased risk of the future development of diabetes mellitus type 2 and metabolic syndrome like obesity.

A new study now suggests that testosterone replacement therapy may actually help patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to lower HbA1c and improve lipid profile in the patients.

In the study, 125 male patients with diabetes mellitus were screened and a total of 85 participants aged 41 to 65 years with body mass index from 27.0 to 48.0 kg/m2 were either treated with testosterone replacement therapy in addition to the dietary intervention, physical exercise, anti-diabetic therapy or placebo in addition to the same routines like the same dietary intervention, physical activity and anti-diabetic medication.

After six months of intervention, lipid profile was found improved more significantly and HbA1c was more significantly reduced in the treated diabetes mellitus patients, compared with those untreated with testosterone.

Testosterone replacement therapy did not seem to affect leptin levels and blood pressure.  Other studies suggest that leptin may be involved in the effect of testosterone therapy on diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome.

The study concluded "it is possible to break this metabolic vicious circle by raising testosterone levels in diabetic men with androgen deficiency." (david Liu, PHD)

Janjgava S, Zerekidze T, Uchava L, Giorgadze E, Asatiani K.  Influence of testosterone replacement therapy on metabolic disorders in male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and androgen deficiency. Eur J Med Res. 2014 Oct 23;19(1):56.