Effects of exercise training on resting testosterone concentrations in sedentary men: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: POTTER, NOLAN - University Of North Dakota; TOMKINSON, GRANT - University Of North Dakota; DUFNER, TREVOR - University Of North Dakota; WALCH, TANIS - University Of North Dakota; Roemmich, James; WILSON, PATRICK - Old Dominion University; FITZGERALD, JOHN - University Of North Dakota

Submitted to: The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/21/2021
Publication Date: 12/1/2021
Citation: Potter, N.J., Tomkinson, G.R., Dufner, T., Walch, T., Roemmich, J.N., Wilson, P.B., Fitzgerald, J.S. 2021. Effects of exercise training on resting testosterone concentrations in sedentary men: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 35:3521-3528. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004146.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004146

Interpretive Summary: The hormone testosterone is important for the healthy aging of men, but declines with age. This systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by scientists at the University of North Dakota in collaboration with ARS Scientists in Grand Forks, ND tested whether exercise training changed resting total testosterone concentration in previously sedentary, apparently healthy men and whether the effects of exercise training differed by training type, age, or weight status. Based on the results from 11 randomized clinical trials that included a total of 421 previously sedentary, apparently healthy men aged 19–75 years across, exercise training had little effect on resting total testosterone concentration. Subgroup analyses indicated that the effect of exercise training was not influenced by training type, age, or weight status. Thus, exercise training does not appear to affect resting total testosterone concentration in previously sedentary men with already normal total testosterone concentration.

Technical Abstract: The anabolic hormone testosterone plays a pivotal role in the healthy aging of men and tends to decline with age. The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were twofold: 1) to evaluate the effect of exercise training on resting total testosterone concentration in previously sedentary, apparently healthy men; and 2) to determine if the effects of exercise training differed by training type, age, or weight status. Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus) were systematically searched (up to and including 22 October 2020) for peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting the following criteria: population (apparently healthy, previously sedentary men aged =18 years), intervention (exercise training [any modality and =4 metabolic equivalents] lasting a minimum of 4 weeks), control (sedentary men), and outcome (resting total testosterone concentration). Intervention effects, weighted by the inverse of the pooled variance, were calculated relative to the control group as standardized mean differences. Eleven RCTs, representing 421 previously sedentary, apparently healthy men aged 19–75 years across 16 intervention groups who participated in aerobic, resistance, or combined training lasting a median of 12 weeks, were included in the analysis. Overall, exercise training had a negligible effect on resting total testosterone concentration (mean SMD [95% CI]: 0.00 [–0.20 to 0.20]). Subgroup analyses indicated that the effect of exercise training was not significantly influenced by training type, age, or weight status. Exercise training does not appear to affect resting total testosterone concentration in previously sedentary, eugonadal men.