Effectiveness of testosterone therapy in obese men with low testosterone seric levels: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

• Grant number: 18/16127-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2018
• End date: November 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Vania dos Santos Nunes Nogueira
• Grantee: Leonardo de Andrade Rodrigues Brito
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of testosterone replacement therapy in obese men with low testosterone levels has been controversial. This review aims to analyze the effectiveness of testosterone therapy for weight loss and preventing cardiovascular complications in obese men with low testosterone levels but without classical hypogonadism causes. Methods and Analysis: We will perform a systematic review according to Cochrane Methodology of randomized studies, including crossover studies, wherein patients are allocated into one of the two groups: testosterone therapy and control (no treatment or placebo). The primary outcomes analyzed will be: weight loss, adverse events, quality of life, improvement of libido, control of obesity complications, frequency of cardiovascular events, and deaths. Four general and adaptive search strategies have been created for the following electronic health databases: Embase, Medline, LILACS, and CENTRAL. Two reviewers will independently select the eligible studies, assess the risk of bias, and extract the data from included studies. Similar outcomes measured in at least two trials will be plotted in the meta-analysis using Review Manager 5.3. The quality of evidence of the effect estimate of the intervention for the outcomes that could be plotted in the meta-analysis will be generated according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) Working Group. PROSPERO number registration: CRD42017065598.