The Effects of Testosterone on Metabolism

The male sex hormone testosterone can do more for your body than just increase sex drive. Supplementing testosterone levels can help increase lean muscle mass, lower blood pressure and reduce the levels of bad cholesterol. It can also affect metabolism. Before getting started on any supplement regime, it is important to talk to your doctor to ensure that testosterone supplements are right for you.

Increased Lean Muscle Mass

A study published in 1992 in the "International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders" and cited by the U.S. National Institutes of Health has concluded that testosterone supplements can increase the level of lean muscle mass in obese men. Researchers found that middle-aged men who were obese around the abdomen experienced improvements in well-being, heart health and their diabetes risk profile with testosterone supplementation. Visceral fat decreased as well.

Increased Muscle Strength

A study published in 1996 by the "New England Journal of Medicine" has shown that taking testosterone supplements can increase muscle size in normal, healthy men. The study concluded that testosterone supplements not only increase muscle size, it increases muscular strength as well. According to the study, men taking testosterone supplements and combining these supplements with exercise showed an increase in strength on the bench press and the squat.

Lowered Bad Cholesterol

A 2005 study published by the "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology" has shown that taking testosterone supplements can significantly decrease the levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol in the body. In addition, testosterone supplements seem to increase the levels of HDL, or "good" cholesterol. The study concluded that testosterone treatments may be preferable to other treatments in lowering the levels of bad cholesterol in the body. A 2010 study published in the journal "Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism" also suggested that testosterone supplements can lower the chances of developing heart diseases such as angina and cardiac ischemia.