In an interview, Steve Borst, PhD, of the University of Florida, questioned the study’s approach because it looks only at baseline hormone levels. “What would be much more interesting to study would be changes in hormone levels vs. changes in frailty,” he said.
Dr. Borst added that researchers already know that “the relationship between testosterone and frailty is both large in magnitude and causal in nature.”
He pointed to his group’s research that linked testosterone injections to an increase in muscle strength, and he said others have linked testosterone administration to an increase in bone density. “While these measures are not exactly the same as frailty index,” he said, “it is well established that lower body muscle strength keeps older people in an independent living state and that the changes in bone mineral density are enough to account for protection against fracture.”
John Morley, MBBCh, of Saint Louis University, said in an interview that testosterone has a role in combating frailty. “But it’s not like it’s going to turn people into super people,” he said.
He added that “we shouldn’t say ‘Let’s do testosterone before we do exercise.’ It’s better to do resistance exercise than it is to take testosterone. But most older males are loath to do any physical work to make themselves better. That’s just human nature.”
The study was funded by various European research-based organizations. The study authors reported multiple disclosures. Dr. Morley reports no disclosures.
SOURCE: Swiecicka A et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018 Feb;103(2):701-9.