JACKSON, Miss., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers have found testosterone supplementation in aging rats elevates blood pressure and may cause kidney damage.
The study was conducted to learn the potential risks faced by men who choose testosterone replacement therapy to reverse losses of muscle mass, bone strength, and libido that accompany aging.
Dr. Radu Iliescu and colleagues at the University of Mississippi Medical Center measured blood pressure and the amount of proteins excreted in the urine in three groups of rats -- intact rats, rats who were castrated at eight months of age, and rats who were given testosterone supplements in their food pellets. When all the rats were 13 months of age, their blood pressure was measured and urine collected for measurement of proteins, a sign of kidney damage.
The scientists found rats receiving testosterone had significantly higher blood pressure and excreted more urinary protein than rats from the other two groups. The finding suggests testosterone supplementation may lead to kidney damage and high blood pressure in men.
The study was presented in Austin, Texas, during last week's meeting of The American Physiological Society.
