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14.04.2009

Average meal gives optimal Andriol uptake

Andriol, the oral testosterone preparation, is best taken with an average meal. The fats ensure optimal absorption. A fast breakfast of fruit or a yogurt drink won't work, but it doesn't have to be a greasy meal either, write Organon researchers in Clinical Endocrinology.

Andriol [active ingredient testosterone undecanoate] is not very active when taken orally. The capsules contain a hefty 40 mg of active ingredient, but only a fraction is absorbed by the body. Nevertheless the pill form is attractive for people who prefer not to inject or use a gel on their skin. That's why researchers at Organon have been trying to find out for a while now how users can get the most out of Andriol.

The researchers did experiments with twenty older women in the menopause. Although women's enzyme systems deal differently with Andriol than men’s enzyme systems, the researchers believe that when it comes to the absorption of hormones via the digestive system there's no significant difference between men and women.

The researchers gave the women 80 mg of Andriol during a meal. For the experiment the researchers used four different meals, A, B, C and D. The nutritional composition of the meals is shown in the table below.

Meal A consisted of juice and fruit. Meal B was a yogurt drink. The fats in meal C came mainly from ham, cheese and low-fat margarine. In meal D the fats were in butter and fried bacon and eggs.

The researchers then examined the hormone concentration in the women’s blood. The graph below shows the testosterone concentration.

"The findings from the current suggest that a low-calorie breakfast, for example a breakfast consisting of fruit and juice only, is probably not enough for adequate lymphatic absorption of oral TU", the researchers conclude. A yogurt drink containing 5 g of fat isn't enough for optimal absorption either. For optimal absorption you need 19 g of fat.

And 19 g is enough. You don't need more.

Source:
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2007 Apr;66(4):579-85.