Effect of short-term testosterone replacement therapy on heart rate variability in men with hypoandrogen-metabolic syndrome - Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) is characterized by clinical signs of testosterone deficiency accompanied by reduction in testosterone level.

TDS leads to endothelial dysfunction which, apart from erectile dysfunction, accelerates progression of atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of testosterone supplementation in men with metabolic syndrome (MS) and TDS on autonomic balance assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) in 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty males divided into 3 groups - MS+TDS+(n = 30); MS+TDS-(n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 25) were included. Men (MS+TDS+) underwent 9 week intramuscular testosterone therapy (Omnadren 250). 24 hours ECG Holter monitoring was performed before start and at the end of the therapy.

RESULTS: Almost all HRV parameters were significantly lower in men with MS+TDS+ compared to the control. Total power (TP), high (HF) and low frequency domain (LF) were significantly lower in MS+ TDS+ vs MS+TDS- groups. There were significant differences in SDNN (SD of NN intervals), SDNNI (SDNN index), SDANN (SD of the averages of 5-minute segments NN intervals) and ultra low frequency (ULF) domain between healthy subjects and MS+ TDS-. As a result of testosterone supplementation, a statistically significant increase was noted for SDNN, SDANN, TP, LF, VLF (very low frequency domain) and ULF. All, except for r-MSSD and TP, HF and LF/HF ratio values reached by these parameters still differ statistically from those in the healthy group.

CONCLUSIONS: The 9-week-long testosterone supplementation therapy with beneficial effect on HRV could decrease the cardiovascular risk in men with MS and TDS.

Written by:
Poliwczak AR, TyliƄska M, Broncel M.   Are you the author?

Reference: Pol Arch Med Wewn. 2013 Aug 19. pii: AOP_13_047.


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23974276

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