Exogenous Testosterone Alone or With Finasteride Increases Physical Performance, Grip Strength, and Lean Body Mass in Older Men With Low Serum Testosterone

The study found that testosterone therapy, both alone and combined with finasteride, improved physical performance, grip strength, and lean body mass in older men with low serum testosterone over a 36-month period. The study involved 70 men aged 65 and older, who were randomly assigned to receive testosterone with or without finasteride, or a placebo. Testosterone therapy also decreased fat mass, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein, without affecting high-density lipoprotein, adiponectin, or fasting insulin levels. The addition of finasteride did not diminish the testosterone-induced improvements, suggesting that dihydrotestosterone is not essential for these benefits.