Oral Testosterone in Oil: Pharmacokinetic Effects of 5α-Reduction by Finasteride or Dutasteride and Food Intake in Men
January 2006
in “
International Journal of Andrology
”
Studysummary This study found that coadministration of 5α-reductase inhibitors with oral testosterone in oil significantly increases serum testosterone levels in medically castrated men compared to testosterone alone, with food intake minimally affecting these levels. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
This study investigated the effects of administering oral testosterone in oil combined with either finasteride or dutasteride on serum testosterone levels in men with experimentally induced hypogonadism. The study found that combining oral testosterone with either finasteride or dutasteride roughly doubled the resulting serum concentrations of testosterone. The study also found that food intake had a slight effect on serum testosterone levels but did not significantly affect serum DHT levels. The study suggests that combinations of oral testosterone in oil and 5a reductase inhibitors may allow for an oral, selective form of androgen therapy, but additional studies of the long-term safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of these combinations are warranted to determine if they will be a clinically useful alternative method to treat testosterone deficiency.
