This study was conducted to assess lipid profile changes in post-menopausal women treated with testosterone gel. Thirty-six oophorectomized women on estradiol treatment who received transdermal testosterone gel (5 mg daily) were enrolled into the study. Cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and lipoprotein (a) were tested before and after six months of treatment. The selected participants had a mean age of 50.9 ± 4.6 years and a body mass index of 30.1 ± 3.8 kg/m2. Significantly decreased cholesterol levels were found after six months of treatment (204.5 ± 35.1 mg/dL before treatment compared to 183.1 ± 21.9 mg/dL after treatment; P < 0.05). A significant reduction was also seen in LDL-C levels after six months of treatment compared to baseline (130.9 ± 29.7 mg/dL versus 118.5 ± 21.3 mg/dL; P < 0.05). No differences were found in triglyceride, HDL-C, VLDL-C, and lipoprotein (a) levels (P = NS). The authors concluded that testosterone gel applied to oophorectomized women receiving estrogen treatment resulted in decreased cholesterol and LDL-C levels after six months of treatment, without affecting serum triglyceride, HDL-C, VLDL-C, and lipoprotein (a) levels. Endocrinol Nutr. 2012 Jan;59(1):44-9. PMID: 22115702
