Login to Access Video or Poster Abstract: MP91-05
Sources of Funding: none

Introduction

According to recent study, exercise can improve efficacy of testosterone treatment and the durability of response after cessation of treatment. _x000D_ However, there is no conclusive information on what type of exercise is better to increase serum testosterone levels or improve testosterone deficiency (TD) symptoms such as erectile dysfunction (ED). Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the correlation of serum testosterone with physical fitness in patients with ED._x000D_

Methods

Among patients who had their serum testosterone levels measured after visiting the hospital for ED between January 2014 and June 2015, data were analyzed for 87 patients who underwent body composition and basic exercise testing. Body mass index (BMI) was measured in all patients, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was used to test the body composition, including skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, lean body mass, body fat percentage, abdominal fat percentage, and visceral fat mass. The patients performed 7 types of basic exercise testing: cardiorespiratory fitness (cycle ergometer test), flexibility (sit-and-reach test), muscular endurance (curl-up test), muscular strength (grip test, vertical jump test), agility (whole body reaction test), and balance (one-leg Stance test). The correlation of serum testosterone levels with the results of body composition and basic exercise tests was investigated by a partial correlation analysis with age as a confounding factor. A serum testosterone cut-off value was obtained for the body composition and basic exercise test parameters that showed a significant correlation with serum testosterone levels.

Results

The mean age of subjects was 57 years (36 to 73 years), and the mean serum testosterone level was 342.1ng/dL (83.4 to 1030ng/dL). A correlation analysis between BMI and serum testosterone levels showed a negative correlation with a Pearson correlation coefficient (r) of -0.200, but this was not statistically significant (p=0.082). Among the body composition tests, body and abdominal fat percentage showed a statistically significant negative correlation with serum testosterone levels (r=-0.244, p=0.033, r=-0.254, p=0.026). Among the basic exercise tests, all tests showed a positive correlation, but the majority were not statistically significant, and only the cycle ergometer test for cardiorespiratory fitness showed a statistically significant positive correlation with serum testosterone levels (r=0.292, p=0.010). Cut-off value of serum testosterone which makes difference in body fat percentage, abdominal fat percentage, and cardiorespiratory fitness was 384.9ng/dl.

Conclusions

In patients with erectile dysfunction, serum TT showed a significant negative correlation with body and abdominal fat percentage, and showed a significant positive correlation with cardiorespiratory fitness. Thus, in these patients, serum TT levels, which are closely related to erectile function, can be increased by reducing fat percentage and improving cardiorespiratory fitness by aerobic exercise.

Funding

none