Effects of Intramuscular or Bioadhesive Buccal Testosterone Treatment on Antioxidant Systems in Secondary Hypogonadism

Abstract

From cross-sectional studies in healthy men, lower plasma total testosterone levels seem to be associated with hyperinsulinemia, decreased glucose tolerance, and a higher level of cardiovascular risk factors. Despite in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest a key role of testosterone in modulating antioxidant systems in different tissues, few data are reported in humans. Extending our previous results, we show that treatment with testosterone, both in intramuscular or bioadhesive buccal formulations, increase plasma levels of Coenzyme Q10, lipophilic antioxidant, and total antioxidant capacity, measured with colorimetric method, in patients with secondary hypogonadism. Hypogonadism could represent a condition of oxidative stress, in turn related with augmented cardiovascular risk in such patients.