306 citations
,
August 2011 in “Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle” Enobosarm significantly increased muscle mass and improved physical function in elderly men and postmenopausal women without serious side effects.
2 citations
,
July 2025 in “Journal of Ovarian Research” Going to bed late may increase hormones and decrease muscle in women with PCOS.
December 2010 in “TSpace” Activating androgen receptors in muscle can increase muscle mass and reduce fat.
6 citations
,
August 2013 in “Fertility and Sterility” Eating cream can increase ovarian androgen production in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which is not related to obesity.
August 2013 in “Fertility and Sterility” High levels of fatty acids are linked to increased androgen production and inflammation in women with PCOS, which may affect IVF outcomes.
December 2024 in “Frontiers in Neurology” Testosterone with finasteride improved muscle and bone health in men with spinal cord injury.
11 citations
,
March 2016 in “Translational Andrology and Urology” Nandrolone might increase muscle mass with fewer side effects than testosterone but could cause erectile dysfunction and needs more research.
211 citations
,
May 2013 in “Journal of Nutrition Health & Aging” MK-0773 safely increased muscle mass but did not improve muscle strength or function in elderly women with sarcopenia.
34 citations
,
December 2012 in “Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care” Sex hormone treatments can increase muscle mass in older adults but have inconsistent effects on muscle function and may carry cardiovascular risks.
April 2018 in “Gynäkologische Endokrinologie” Testosterone in older women can increase bone density, muscle mass, fat mass, improve memory, and boost libido, but may cause nipple color changes.
16 citations
,
January 2003 in “Nuclear Receptor Signaling” Androgens and SARMs play a role in body mass, frailty, skin health, and hair growth, and are used in treating prostate cancer, acne, and hair loss, with potential for new uses and improved versions in the future.
11 citations
,
November 2009 in “Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology/The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology” Bolandiol, a synthetic steroid, builds muscle and bone without greatly affecting sex glands, and works differently from other hormones.
February 1999 in “Strength and Conditioning Journal” Androstenedione, a hormone supplement, doesn't improve muscle or performance and can cause harmful side effects.
Testosterone works in different ways, including direct interaction with its receptor, conversion to other hormones for specific effects on genitalia, hair, bones, and muscle, and changes in body fat and sexual function when low.
506 citations
,
March 2005 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Testosterone therapy improves physical function, strength, and body composition in older men with low testosterone levels.
124 citations
,
March 2012 in “JAMA” Testosterone's muscle-building effects do not require its conversion to DHT.
31 citations
,
January 2017 in “Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology” Low testosterone and 5α-reductase inhibitors can harm men's metabolic and sexual health; testosterone therapy may help, but discussing 5α-RIs' side effects is important.
September 2023 in “Journal of the turkish academy of dermatology” Men with male pattern baldness had higher body fat and obesity-related measurements but similar heart fat and artery thickness compared to healthy men.
92 citations
,
November 2003 in “The Journals of Gerontology” Testosterone supplements can increase muscle mass and strength in older men with low levels, but long-term effects and risks need more research.
14 citations
,
January 2018 in “Advances in Clinical Chemistry” The document concludes that hormonal biomarkers are key for diagnosing hyperandrogenemia in women and hypogonadism in men.
72 citations
,
October 1998 in “Baillière's clinical endocrinology and metabolism” Long-term testosterone therapy can cause hormone suppression, affect prostate and heart health, and alter physical characteristics, but does not increase prostate cancer risk and needs more research for full risk assessment.
28 citations
,
October 1998 in “Baillière's clinical endocrinology and metabolism” Testosterone replacement may help post-menopausal women with androgen insufficiency, but more research is needed on its benefits and risks.
8 citations
,
March 2012 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone have similar effects on body composition and metabolic health in men.
43 citations
,
April 2011 in “AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism” Androgens increase muscle mass by promoting myoblast growth through ornithine decarboxylase.
29 citations
,
October 2020 in “eLife” Higher testosterone levels can increase the risk of certain diseases like type 2 diabetes in women and prostate cancer in men, but can also protect against autoimmune diseases and hair loss. It also affects body fat and bone density.
4 citations
,
June 2021 in “Applied Sciences” Women with PCOS have higher body fat and worse insulin resistance and lipid profiles.
February 2026 in “British Journal of Sports Medicine” Transgender women have similar fitness to cisgender women, while transgender men have higher fat and lower strength than cisgender men; hormone therapy affects body composition and strength.
July 2023 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Gender-affirming hormone therapy improves physical performance in trans men to the level of cisgender men, while in trans women, it increases fat mass and decreases muscle mass, with no advantage in physical performance after 2 years.
162 citations
,
April 2016 in “The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology” Testosterone therapy in transgender men has both desired effects like increased muscle mass and potential health risks such as higher cardiovascular risk.
14 citations
,
May 2013 in “American Journal of Physiology-endocrinology and Metabolism” Removing myelin protein zero-like 3 in mice leads to better metabolism and resistance to obesity.