Effect of transdermal testosterone or alpha-lipoic acid on erectile dysfunction and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Folia Med (Plovdiv). 2013 Jan-Mar;55(1):55-63. doi: 10.2478/folmed-2013-0006.

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to develop and/or maintain an erection that is sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction in diabetic men is 28-75%, this percentage rising with patient's age and duration of diabetes. The AIM of the present study was to investigate erectile dysfunction and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after treating them with transdermal testosterone or with alpha-lipoic acid.

Materials and methods: The effect of a 12-week treatment with transdermal testosterone or alpha-lipoic acid on the erectile function and quality of life of 45 men with ED and T2DM was studied in a randomized, prospective, open clinical, comparative study. The parameters we measured in the patients were body weight and body mass index (BMI); the albumin, lipids, HbA1C, testosterone (T), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and microalbuminuria levels; the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Health related quality of life (SF-36) questionnaires were completed to evaluate ED and quality of life before and after 12 weeks of treatment with alpha-lipoic acid (600 mg, parenterally, for 7 days, followed by 600 mg received per os) or with transdermal testosterone in a dose of 50 mg daily.

Results: Testosterone treatment decreased BMI significantly (p < 0.01), increased testosterone concentrations (p < 0.01) and raised the SHBG levels (p < 0.05), improved the glycemic control and lipid profile (total cholesterol, p < 0.05; HDL cholesterol, p < 0.05; triglycerides, p < 0.05). The patients treated with alpha-lipoic acid had their BMI (p < 0.01), HbA1C (p < 0.01), total cholesterol (p < 0.01), HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.01) and triglycerides (p < 0.01) significantly reduced. The indicators for ED in both groups were also statistically significantly improved. There was improvement for all patients' self-assessment score for "physical functioning" (p = 0.001), for "role limitations due to physical health" (p < 0.001) and for "general health perception" (p = 0.021).

Conclusions: Transdermal testosterone and alpha-lipoic acid have a tangible beneficial effect on erectile dysfunction and on metabolic disorders in T2DM patients and can be used to treat such patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Body Mass Index
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / psychology
  • Erectile Dysfunction / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life*
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / analysis
  • Testosterone / administration & dosage*
  • Thioctic Acid / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin
  • Testosterone
  • Thioctic Acid
  • Luteinizing Hormone