THE EFFECT OF SUPRAPHYSIOLOGICAL DOSES OF TESTOSTERONE ON FASTING TOTAL HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS IN NORMAL MEN

Elevated total homocysteine (tHcy) levels are associated with increase d risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. tHcy levels are hig her in men than in women, and estrogen replacement therapy may reduce tHcy levels in postmenopausal women. The effect of androgenic hormones on tHcy levels in men has not been examined. The present study determ ined the effect of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone, with or wit hout its aromatization to estradiol, on fasting tHcy levels in 14 norm al male weightlifters aged 19-42 years. Subjects received testosterone enanthate (200 mg/week intramuscularly), the aromatase inhibitor, tes tolactone (1 g/day orally), or both drugs together in a crossover desi gn. Each treatment lasted 3 weeks and each treatment was separated by a 4-week washout. Both testosterone regimens increased serum testoster one levels, whereas estradiol increased only during testosterone alone . Mean tHcy levels were not significantly altered when testosterone wa s given alone or together with testolactone. Testolactone did not sign ificantly influence tHcy levels. We conclude that short-term, high-dos e testosterone administration does not affect fasting tHcy levels in n ormal men. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.