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Endocrinology

Testosterone Increases Insulin-Like Growth Factor I in HIV Positive Women

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Testosterone administration increases concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in HIV positive women, a study has found. Researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital investigated the effects of testosterone on the growth hormone (GH) axis in androgen-deficient HIV infected women. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, found a significant increase in IGF-I in women receiving testosterone compared with those receiving placebo.

Key Takeaways:

  • Testosterone administration increased IGF-I concentrations in HIV positive women by 37 ng/ml compared to placebo.
  • GH pulse frequency increased significantly in testosterone-treated subjects compared to placebo-treated subjects.
  • The change in IGF-I was significantly correlated to the change in free testosterone after 6 months of treatment with testosterone.
  • IGF-I increased by 19 ng/ml for each 1.0 pg/ml increase in free testosterone.
  • The mechanism of the effect of testosterone on IGF-I is unknown but may involve a direct effect of testosterone on IGF-I independent of changes in GH pulse dynamics.

Statistics:

  • IGF-I levels increased from -30 (-98, 39) ng/ml to 37 (-4, 73) ng/ml in testosterone-treated subjects.
  • GH pulse frequency increased from 0.0 (-0.5, 1.5) to 1.0 (1.0, 2.0) peaks per 12 hours in testosterone-treated subjects.
  • The change in IGF-I was significantly correlated to the change in free testosterone, with a correlation coefficient of 0.40 (p=0.04) in univariate regression analysis.

Sources:

  • Schurgin S, et al. Effects of testosterone administration on growth hormone pulse dynamics in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (2004);89(7):3290-3297.
  • NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net. Testosterone Increases Concentrations of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-I in HIV Positive Women (2004 SEP 13).
  • Massachusetts General Hospital, Program of Nutrition and Metabolism.
  • Endocrine Society, 8401 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 900, Chevy Chase, MD 20815-5817 USA.

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