Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Hepatol. Apr 27, 2022; 14(4): 754-765
Published online Apr 27, 2022. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v14.i4.754
Table 1 Baseline characteristics of study participants
Characteristic
Testosterone group (n = 20)
Placebo group (n = 19)
P value
Age (yr)62 (58-67)60.4 (6.5)0.5
Duration of type 2 diabetes (yr)8 (6-14)7 (5-9)0.2
Insulin therapy, n (%)3 (15)2 (10.5)> 0.9
Weight, kg92 (86-101)98 (92-105)0.15
BMI, kg/m230.3 (27.3-31.9)32.0 (29.7-35.4)0.14
Waist circumference, cm106 (102-116)112 (106-119)0.4
Fat mass, g30788 (24875-38117)31758 (29332-35286)0.8
Lean mass, g57090 (51658-62688)62140 (66226-65844)0.029
ALT, IU/L34 (26-38)32 (25-52)0.8
ALP, IU/L72 (60-82)58 (54-69)0.057
GGT, IU/L30 (21-38)32 (25-45)0.5
TT, nmol/L (ECLIA)9.8 (7.2-12.0)7.8 (6.0-10.8)0.2
cFT, pmol/L (ECLIA)216 (151-272)176 (146-224)0.3
SHBG, nmol/L28 (20-34)28 (23-32)0.8
LH, IU/L4.5 (3.4-7.0)4.3 (3.4-6.0)0.7
Fasting glucose, mmol/L8.9 (6.8-10.3)8.5 (7.7-9.8)0.6
HbA1c, %6.6 (6.4-7.2)7.0 (6.7-7.3)0.071
Cholesterol, mmol/L4.4 (4.0-5.0)4.6 (4.0-4.9)> 0.9
LDL, mmol/L2.4 (2.0-3.0)2.7 (2.0-3.0)0.7
HDL, mmol/L1.2 (1.0-1.4)1.0 (0.7-1.2)0.03
Table 2 Baseline characteristics of our participants who had magnetic resonance imaging scans compared to index study participants who did not have magnetic resonance imaging scans
Characteristic
Non-MRI scan group (n = 49)
MRI scan group (n = 39)
P value
Age, yr62 (58-68)62 (58-67)0.6
Duration of type 2 diabetes, yr9 (4-12)8 (5-11)> 0.9
Insulin therapy, n (%)13 (26.5)5 (12.8)0.19
Weight, kg102 (89-111)95 (90-104)0.12
BMI, kg/m233.4 (31.2-35.9)31.5 (28.2-35.3)0.012
Waist circumference, cm116 (109-123)111 (104-118)0.024
Fat mass, g32696 (29299-39109)31832 (26820-37809)0.2
Lean mass, g62004 (58056-66170)60,049 (54278-64848)0.12
ALT, IU/L34 (25-50)32 (25-42)0.7
ALP, IU/L71 (56-82)66 (54-75)0.2
GGT, IU/L30 (24-43)32 (24-43)0.8
TT, nmol/L (ECLIA)8.5 (7.3-10.5)8.1 (6.7-11.4)0.8
cFT, pmol/L (ECLIA)176 (151-230)194 (148-253)0.6
SHBG, nmol/L28 (24-32)29 (22-34)> 0.9
LH, IU/L4.5 (3.5-6.2)4.5 (3.4-6.4)0.9
Fasting glucose, mmol/L8.2 (7.0-10.6)8.6 (7.3-9.9)> 0.9
HbA1c, %7.1 (6.6-7.7)6.9 (6.5-7.3)0.4
Cholesterol, mmol/L4.1 (3.5-4.7)4.6 (4.0-4.9)0.005
LDL, mmol/L2.0 (1.6-2.4)2.7 (2.0-3.1)< 0.001
HDL, mmol/L1.0 (0.9-1.2)1.1 (0.9-1.2)0.5
SAT, cm34095 (3526-5593)4661 (3137-5385)0.7
VAT, cm34786 (3,642-5,617)3634 (2780-4823)0.044
Table 3 Changes in body composition and metabolic parameters

Testosterone group (n = 20)
Placebo group (n = 19)
P value
Weight, kg
Baseline92 (86-101)98 (91-105)0.55
40 wk90 (86-100)96 (94-100)
BMI, kg/m2
Baseline30.3 (27.3-31.9)32.0 (29.7-35.4)0.64
40 wk29.3 (27.4-31.8)31.8 (30.0-34.4)
Waist circumference, cm
Baseline106 (102-116)112 (106-118)0.15
40 wk108 (101-115)114 (110-118)
Fasting glucose, mmol/L
Baseline8.9 (6.8-10.3)8.6 (7.7-9.8)0.93
40 wk8.3 (6.5-10.5)9.1 (7.7-9.9)
HbA1c, %
Baseline6.6 (6.4-7.2)7.0 (6.8-7.4)0.95
40 wk7.0 (6.3-7.4)7.3 (7.0-7.7)
Fat mass, g
Baseline30788 (24875-38117)31758 (29332-35286)< 0.001a
40 wk27272 (21948-34558)32089 (29869-34492)
Lean mass, g
Baseline57090 (51658-62688)62140 (66226-65844)< 0.001a
40 wk58236 (55150-63077)61070 (57408-64833)
SAT, cm3
Baseline4445 (2928-5669)4302 (3828-5254)0.004a
40 wk4140 (2769-5046)4330 (3741-5179)
VAT, cm3
Baseline3574 (2460-4711)3864 (3267-4703)0.63
40 wk3248 (2280-4634)3966 (3462-4699)
ALT, U/L
Baseline34 (26-38)32 (25-52)0.27
40 wk32 (25-36)44 (29-61)
GGT, U/L
Baseline30 (21-38)32 (25-45)0.28
40 wk28 (20-41)33 (28-56)
ALP, U/L
Baseline72 (60-82)58 (54-69)0.04a
40 wk70 (60-78)60 (58-72)
Total cholesterol, mmol/L
Baseline4.4 (4.0-5.0)4.6 (4.0-4.9)0.008a
40 wk3.7 (3.5-4.5)4.5 (4.1-5.1)
LDL, mmol/L
Baseline2.4 (2.0-3.0)2.7 (2.0-3.0)0.21
40 wk2.1 (1.8-2.7)2.4 (1.9-3.2)
HDL, mmol/L
Baseline(1.01-1.40)1.02 (0.74-1.18)0.02a
40 wk1.19 (0.93-1.36)0.98 (0.82-1.09)
Triglycerides, mmol/L
Baseline1.6 (1.3-2.0)2.0 (1.4-2.4)0.25
40 wk1.4 (1.0-1.9)1.9 (1.6-3.0)
Table 4 Univariate analysis table of factors affecting change in hepatic steatosis
Characteristic
n
Beta
95%CI
P value
Testosterone381-0.66-1.0, -0.37< 0.001
Age (yr)38-0.03-0.05, 0.000.075
BMI (kg/m2)380.060.02, 0.100.003
Baseline liver fat proportion384.63.3, 6.0< 0.001
Baseline total testosterone (nmol/L)38-0.03-0.09, 0.030.3
Baseline free testosterone (nmol/L)380.000.00, 0.000.5
Baseline visceral fat (g)380.000.00, 0.000.4
Follow up total testosterone (nmol/L)37-0.05-0.09, -0.020.006
Follow up free testosterone (nmol/L)370.000.00, 0.000.005
Follow up visceral fat (g)380.000.00, 0.000.2