Body composition and muscle strength in healthy men receiving testosterone enanthate for contraception

Abstract

To determine the effect of androgens on body composition and muscle strength, we measured fat-free mass (kg), fat mass (kg), and bone density (g/cm2) by dual x-ray absorptiometry, and muscle strength (Newton meters) by dynamometry in a controlled, prospective study involving 13 nonathletic men receiving testosterone enanthate 200 mg/week im for 6 months and 8 healthy controls. Biochemical markers of bone turnover were measured in the treated subjects at baseline and 6 months. In the treated subjects at 6 months, fat-free mass (mean ± SEM) increased by 9.6 ± 1.0% (P < 0.01) whereas fat mass decreased by 16.2 ± 6.7% (P ≤ 0.05). Changes in muscle strength ranged from -1.6-19.2%. Only hip adduct..