does test increase metabolism?

Yes it does. Test causes more fat break down and prevents new fat formation.

Testosterone treatment in adolescents with delayed puberty: changes in body composition, protein, fat, and glucose metabolism.

Arslanian S, Suprasongsin C.

Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes Mellitus, Children's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. [email protected]

Previously, we demonstrated decreased protein breakdown and insulin resistance in pubertal adolescents compared with prepubertal children. Puberty-related increases in sex steroids and/or GH could be potentially responsible. In the present study, the effects of 4 months of testosterone enanthate (50 mg in every 2 weeks) on body composition, protein, fat, and glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity were evaluated in adolescents with delayed puberty. Body composition was assessed by H218O-dilution principle. Protein breakdown, oxidation, and synthesis were measured during primed constant infusion of [1-13C]leucine. Whole-body lipolysis was measured during primed constant infusion of [2H5]glycerol. Insulin action in suppressing proteolysis and lipolysis and stimulating glucose disposal was assessed during a stepwise hyperinsulinemic (10 and 40 mU-m2.min) euglycemic clamp. Fat and glucose oxidation rates were calculated from indirect calorimetry measurements. After 4 months of testosterone treatment, height, weight, and fat free mass (FFM) increased and fat mass, percent body fat, plasma cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoproteins, and leptin levels decreased significantly. Whole-body proteolysis and protein oxidation were lower after testosterone treatment (proteolysis, 0.49 +/- 0.03 vs 0.54 +/- 0.04 g.h.kg FFM, P = 0.032; oxidation, 0.05 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.09 +/- 0.01 g.h.kg FFM, P = 0.015). Protein synthesis was not different, and resting energy expenditure was not different. Total body lipolysis was not affected by testosterone treatment, however, fat oxidation was higher after testosterone (pre-: 2.4 +/- 0.7 vs. post-: 3.5 +/- 0.7 mumol.kg.min, P = 0.031). During the 40 mU.m2.min hyperinsulinemia, insulin sensitivity of glucose metabolism was not affected with testosterone therapy (59.1 +/- 8.8 vs. 57.1 +/- 8.2 mumol.kg.min per muU/mL). However, metabolic clearance rate of insulin was higher posttestosterone (13.6 +/- 1.1 vs. 16.7 +/- 0.8 mL.kg.min, P = 0.004). In conclusion, after 4 months of low-dose testosterone treatment in adolescents with delayed puberty 1) FFM increases and fat mass and leptin levels decrease; 2) postabsorptive proteolysis and protein oxidation decrease; 3) fat oxidation increases; and 4) insulin sensitivity in glucose metabolism does not change, whereas insulin clearance increases. These longitudinal observations are in agreement with our previous cross-sectional studies of puberty and demonstrate sparing of protein breakdown of approximately 1.2 g.kg.day FFM, wasting of fat mass, but no change in insulin sensitivity after short periods of low-dose testosterone supplementation.

Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 May 11;1244(1):117-20. Related Articles, Links

Androgen hormone binding to adipose tissue in rats.

Sjogren J, Li M, Bjorntorp P.

Wallenberg Laboratory, Department of Heart and Lung Diseases, University of Goteborg, Sahlgren's Hospital, Sweden.

Nuclear binding of androgen was examined, using R 1881, a synthetic androgen. The amount of androgen-receptor complexes bound to isolated nuclei was determined in isolated adipocytes from the epididymal (Epi), retroperitoneal (Ret), inguinal (Ing) and mesenteric (Mes) adipose tissues from intact and castrated rats. The binding was specific and saturable with a Kd in the nanomolar range. Binding was examined after 2 days and after 1 and 2 weeks after castration, showing a higher binding in the Mes tissue in comparison with Ing at all time-points (P < 0.05). Mes adipocytes showed a trend (0.05 < P < 0.1) to up-regulate their binding capacity 2 days after castration, and a significant (P < 0.05) downregulation 2 weeks after castration. Two days after castration, R 1881 binding, expressed per mg triacylglycerol (TG), was generally higher in the Mes region (P < 0.05). This was not fully significant in comparison with Epi tissue in intact rats. When expressed per cell the differences were somewhat diminished, due to differences in cell sizes. Androgen binding showed a negative correlation with TG-uptake in vivo (r = 0.85, P < 0.01), suggesting that a higher density of androgen receptors leads to a more inhibited lipid uptake. In conclusion, a specific androgen receptor was demonstrated in adipose tissue in rat, showing regional differences and a negative correlation with the lipid accumulation of the tissue. <-- Androgens prevent fat formation.