Testosterone undecanoate cuts anemia in hypogonadal men

(HealthDay)—Testosterone undecanoate reduces anemia in patients with subnormal testosterone levels, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.

Li Tao Zhang, from Chonbuk National University in Jeonju, South Korea, and colleagues conducted a registry study involving 58 participants with a subnormal total testosterone level and at least mild symptoms of testosterone deficiency. At the initial visit, all patients received an injection of 1,000 mg testosterone undecanoate, followed by injection at six, 18, 30, 42, and 54 weeks.

The researchers found that testosterone undecanoate therapy restored total testosterone and free testosterone (both P < 0.001). After testosterone undecanoate therapy, hemoglobin and hematocrit significant increased by an average of 2.46 gm/dL and 3.03 percent, respectively (both P < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in the prevalence of anemia (from 29.6 to 10.0 percent; P < 0.001); after testosterone undecanoate therapy, patients with anemia showed a significant increase in erythropoietin (P = 0.047). Compared with baseline, there was a reduction in total cholesterol, increased whole blood viscosity, and increased hematocrit until week 54. After 18 weeks, whole blood viscosity and hematocrit stabilized.

"After 54 weeks, testosterone undecanoate decreased the prevalence of anemia and components of the metabolic syndrome," the authors write.

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