Topical Testosterone Gel May Reduce Harmful Visceral Fat in Older Women After Hip Fracture
Similar Articles
Study Links Greater Muscle Strength to Lower Mortality Risk in Older Women
Semaglutide Shows Significant Weight Loss Benefits for Older Adults with Obesity
Molecular Switch for Alternative Fat-Burning Pathway Identified in Mice
Endoscopic Procedure Shows Promise in Preventing Weight Regain After GLP-1 Medication Use
Specific Diets Linked to Reduced Biological Age in Older Adults, Study Finds
A clinical trial suggests that applying a topical testosterone gel could help older women recovering from hip fractures reduce harmful visceral fat, which is linked to diabetes and heart disease. While overall body fat levels remained similar, women using the gel saw a decrease in visceral fat, whereas a control group saw an increase. The findings, published in the journal Obesity Pillars, point to a potential new approach for managing a serious post-fracture health risk.
Facts First
- Topical testosterone gel may lower visceral fat in older women recovering from hip fractures.
- Visceral fat is linked to serious health conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
- Overall body fat levels remained similar between the testosterone group and the control group.
- The control group experienced an increase in visceral fat over the six-month study period.
- Hip fractures occur nearly three times more often in women than in men.
What Happened
Jacob Earp led a clinical trial involving 66 women over 65 who were recovering from a recent hip fracture. All participants completed a structured exercise program. One group applied a topical testosterone gel, while a control group did not receive the hormone. After six months, women who used the testosterone gel had lower levels of visceral fat, while the control group experienced an increase in visceral fat.
Why this Matters to You
If you or an older loved one is recovering from a hip fracture, this research suggests a topical gel could help manage visceral fat, which is strongly linked to serious conditions like diabetes and heart disease. The finding that a topical gel could potentially reduce this harmful fat while exercise alone did not could lead to more targeted recovery strategies. This may be particularly relevant for women, who are nearly three times more likely than men to suffer a hip fracture.
What's Next
The findings, published in the journal Obesity Pillars, indicate that topical testosterone combined with exercise could be a promising area for further research. Larger and longer-term studies will likely be needed to confirm these results and fully understand the safety and long-term benefits of this approach for post-fracture care.