Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12682

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Stone JA.
Testosterone supplementation: An unfortunate juxtaposition
BMJ 2008 Feb 2; 336:(7638):234
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/336/7638/234-c?etoc

Abstract:

A recent short cut was entitled “Testosterone supplementation doesn’t work miracles.” This apparently well conducted study (double blind randomised placebo controlled trial) showed that testosterone supplementation had no significant effect on functional mobility, muscle strength, cognitive function, bone mineral density, or quality of life.1 Very useful to know.

It was unfortunate therefore to have on the very next page a double page advertisement for not one but two types of testosterone supplementation. To have this level of evidence showing a lack of benefit of testosterone supplementation within touching distance of the pharmaceutical advertisement for that very product was ironic, to say the least.

Perhaps in future new products will be placed deliberately close to the most recent or highest level of evidence available within the medical literature. Granted, the two may rarely coincide, but surely we have a responsibility to prescribe in not only a sound clinical manner but an