Aqueous Extracts of Morus alba Root Bark and Cornus officinalis Fruit Protect against Osteoarthritis Symptoms in Testosterone-Deficient and Osteoarthritis-Induced Rats

Water extracts of both Morus alba L. root bark (MBW) and Cornus officinalis Siebold and Zucc fruit (CFW) have traditionally been used to promote men’s health in the elderly in Asia. We determined that the 12-week consumption of MBW and CFW could alleviate testosterone-deficiency syndrome and osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms in testosterone-deficient rats, and the action mechanisms were explored. Rats with bilateral orchiectomy (ORX) were fed a 45% fat diet containing either 0.5% MBW (ORX-MBW), 0.5% CFW(ORX-CFW), or 0.5% dextrin (ORX-CON). Sham-operated rats also received 0.5% dextrin (Non-ORX-CON). After 8 weeks of treatment, all rats had an injection of monoiodoacetate (MIA) into the left knee, and they continued the same diet for the additional 4 weeks. ORX-CFW and ORX-MBW partially prevented the reduction of serum testosterone concentrations and decreased insulin resistance, compared to the ORX-CON. ORX-CFW and ORX-MBW protected against the reduction of bone mineral density (BMD) and lean body mass (LBM) compared to the ORX-CON. The limping and edema scores were lower in the order of the ORX-CON, ORX-CRF = ORX-MBW, and Non-ORX-CON (p < 0.05). The scores for pain behaviors, measured by weight-distribution on the OA leg and maximum running velocity on a treadmill, significantly decreased in the same order as limping scores. ORX-MBW protected against the increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and MMP-13 and reduced the production of inflammatory markers such as TNF-α and IL-1β, by MIA in the articular cartilage, compared to the ORX-CON (p < 0.05). The cartilage damage near the tidemark of the knee and proteoglycan loss was significantly less in ORX-MBW than ORX-CON. In conclusion, MBW, possibly CFW, could be effective alternative therapeutic agents for preventing osteoarthritis in testosterone-deficient elderly men.

The Relationship between Selected Bioelements and Depressiveness Associated with Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome in Aging Men

Background and Objectives: Abnormal concentrations of bioelements (magnesium, manganese, chromium, copper, zinc) have been associated with physical and emotional dysfunctions, including depression. This association, however, has not been analyzed in testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) or patients with depressiveness, i.e., when individual symptoms do not form the picture of a full-syndrome depressive disorder. This study aimed to assess the relationship between concentrations of selected bioelements and the incidence of depressive symptoms in men aged 50 years and older with a concurrent testosterone deficiency syndrome. Material and Methods: Blood samples were taken from 314 men; the mean age of the population was 61.36 ± 6.38 years. Spectrophotometric method for biochemical analysis of magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) was used. The diagnosis of testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) was based on the total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), estradiol (E2), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels by ELISA. Each participant completed the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male (ADAM) questionnaire, as well as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-Ia) measuring the severity of depressive symptoms. Results: Emotional disturbances manifested as depressive symptoms were diagnosed in 28.7% of all participants and testosterone deficiency syndrome in 49.3%. In the TDS group, the analysis showed a significant correlation between the level of manganese (R = 0.225, p = 0.005) and chromium (R = 0.185, p = 0.021) with the incidence of depression. Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrated a relationship between manganese and chromium concentrations with the incidence of depression in men aged 50 years and older with a concurrent testosterone deficiency syndrome. This may indicate that there is a correlation between these bioelements, as well as emotional disorders manifested as depressive symptoms in aging men with a diagnosed testosterone deficiency.

Prevalence of Age-Associated Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome in Indian Population

Testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) is a gradual age-related phenomenon that occurs in a large proportion of the aging male population. This current prospective study was done with the objective to estimate the prevalence of age-associated TDS in India and its clinical profile. A total of 800 male patients aged ≥40 year were approached to participate in the study. A brief history and focused examination was done. Based on our exclusion criteria, 55 patients were excluded. Androgen deficiency in aging male (ADAM) questionnaire was administered to all remaining 745 patients. Out of these 745 patients, ADAM-positive (symptomatic TDS) patients were found to be 359 and enrolled in the study. In all ADAM-positive patients, serum testosterone levels were measured. Prevalence of symptomatic TDS in study population was found to be 48.18%. Mean total and free testosterone level of symptomatic TDS population were 3.287 ± 1.494 ng/ml (1.12–9.61) and 7.476 ± 2.902 pg/ml (2.18–21.76), respectively. Prevalence of biochemically confirmed TDS among symptomatic TDS population was 60.17%. Prevalence of TDS increases progressively with each decade of life (p=0.034). Prevalence was higher in patients with diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. TDS is a real phenomenon with a prevalence of 28.99% in our study population.