Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32145741›Full record

SynthesisBMC endocrine disorders2020

The effects of testosterone on bone health in males with testosterone deficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zhichao Zhang, Deying Kang, Hongjun Li

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC endocrine disorders, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.1field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

20 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Guideline
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, and fracture risk in men: evidence from observational and Mendelian randomization analyses.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2025
    Observational
  6. Review
  7. Rethinking Osteoporosis Drugs: Can We Simultaneously Address Sarcopenia?International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Review
  11. Hormone Regulation in Testicular Development and Function.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024
    Review
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. The Role of Testosterone in the Elderly: What Do We Know?International journal of molecular sciences · 2022
    Review
  15. Review
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Caring for the Bone Health Among Liver Transplant Recipients.Journal of clinical and experimental hepatology
    Review
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Zhichao ZhangAndrology Center, Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital; Institute of Urology, Peking University, No 8 Xishenku Street, Beijing, 100034, China.
Deying KangDepartment of Evidence based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxuexiang, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Hongjun LiUrological Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 1 Shuaifu, Eastern District, Beijing, 100730, China. lihongjun@pumch.cn.
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College · CNPeking University · CNSichuan University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTestosterone deficiency (TD) may induce a series of clinical symptoms. Studies have shown that testosterone supplementation may prevent these unfavourable symptoms and improve patients' quality of life. Given the conflicting findings across studies, this systematic review aims to evaluate the effects and risks associated with testosterone supplementation in middle-aged or aging males with TD.

methodsElectronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane. Library were searched to December 2019. The risk of bias of individual included studies and the quality of the aggregate evidence were assessed using the GRADE approach. Our primary outcome was bone mineral density (BMD). Meta-analyses were performed. This systematic review was reported according to the PRISMA statement.

resultsA total of 52 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. When compared with placebo, testosterone supplementation did not increase total BMD (short-term: 1081 participants, MD - 0.01 g/cm

conclusionsThe effect of testosterone supplementation on BMD and the risk of falls or fracture remains inconclusive. However, supplementation may benefit patients in the areas of sexual function and quality of life without increasing the risk of cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, or prostatic events. RCTs with a longer follow-up period are still required.

trial registrationWe registered our protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42018109738).

Indexed as

Dietary SupplementsBone DensityFractures, BoneHumansHypogonadismMalePrognosisTestosteroneTestosteroneAgingMalesSystematic reviewTestosteroneTestosterone deficiency

Identifiers

PMID32145741
PMCPMC7060639
OpenAlexW3009635963

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.