Effect of Testosterone Treatment on Leucocyte Telomere Length in Men: Results From a Randomised Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Bu B. Yeap, Jennie Hui, Kristy P. Robledo, Gillian Arscott, Mathis Grossmann, David J. Handelsman, Warrick J. Inder, Bronwyn G. A. Stuckey, Alicia J. Jenkins, Karen Bracken, John P. Beilby, Gary A. WittertABSTRACT
Background
Lower testosterone concentrations in older men are associated with poorer health outcomes.
Objective
We examined whether, on a background of lifestyle intervention, testosterone treatment modulates leucocyte telomere length, a postulated marker of biological ageing, in overweight men with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Participants and Methods
We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomised, placebo‐controlled trial in 50‐ to 74‐year‐old men with waist circumference ≥ 95 cm and dysglycaemia (ACTRN12612000287831). All men received a background lifestyle program, and were randomised to 2 years treatment with intramuscular testosterone undecanoate (1000 mg) every 3 months or placebo. Leucocyte telomere length was assayed by multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction and expressed as relative telomere length (rTL), a ratio of telomeric DNA to β‐globin, a single‐copy control gene (T/S ratio).
Results
There were 720 participants, aged 60 ± 6 years (mean ± SD), 38% had BMI 30–34.99 kg/m 2 and 44% ≥ 35 kg/m 2 . Mean rTL at baseline was 1.63 ± 0.27 in testosterone‐treated men ( N = 375) and 1.61 ± 0.28 in placebo‐treated men ( N = 345). At 2 years, mean rTL was 1.61 ± 0.28 and 1.58 ± 0.29, respectively. Change in rTL after 2 years treatment was −0.02 ± 0.15 in testosterone‐treated and −0.03 ± 0.12 in placebo‐treated men. Adjusting for baseline values there was no effect of testosterone treatment on rTL at 2 years (mean difference 0.01 [95% CI, −0.01 to 0.03], p = 0.24). Results were similar for rTL change at 2 years from baseline.
Conclusions
There was no effect of testosterone treatment on telomere length in this group of men. Larger studies with longer treatment durations are merited.