• DOI:10.1056/NEJM199607043350101
• Corpus ID: 73721690

The effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men.

@article{Halender1996TheEO,
  title={The effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men.},
  author={S Halender and Bernice Rothman Hasin and T Homas W. S Torer and N Ancy and Berkant Erman and C Arlos C Allegari and B Renda C Levenger and T Homas J. B Unnell and Ruth A. Ricker and A Ida S Hirazi and R Ichard C Asaburi},
  journal={The New England Journal of Medicine},
  year={1996},
  volume={335},
  pages={1-7}
}

• S. Halender, B. Hasin, +8 authors R. I. C. Asaburi
• Published 4 July 1996
• Medicine
• The New England Journal of Medicine

Background Athletes often take androgenic steroids in an attempt to increase their strength. The efficacy of these substances for this purpose is unsubstantiated, however. Methods We randomly assigned 43 normal men to one of four groups: placebo with no exercise, testosterone with no exercise, placebo plus exercise, and testosterone plus exercise. The men received injections of 600 mg of testosterone enanthate or placebo weekly for 10 weeks. The men in the exercise groups performed standardized weight-lifting exercises three times weekly. Before and after the treatment period, fat-free mass was determined by underwater weighing, muscle size was measured by magnetic resonance imaging, and the strength of the arms and legs was assessed by bench-press and squatting exercises, respectively. Results Among the men in the no-exercise groups, those given testosterone had greater increases than those given placebo in muscle size in their arms (mean [±SE] change in triceps area, 424±104 vs. -81±109 mm2; P<0.05) and...