METHYL TESTOSTERONE. III. EFFECT UPON BODY WEIGHT AND GROWTH

Abstract

THE ADMINISTRATION of various steroids is known to be associated with a gain in body weight. For example,this has been shown to be an outstand-ing characteristic of desoxycorticosterone (1). In a case under our observation, the injection of 20 mg. per day caused weight gain as high as 14 lb. in 3 days. Such weight gain has been shown to be associated with retention of sodium, chloride, and water. Other steroids have similar properties, although their effect in this respect is less marked. Kenyon(2) noted a gain in body weight following the use of testosterone propionate and showed this to be associated with retention of sodium, chloride, water, and nitrogen. These findings were corroborated by McCullagh and McGurl (3). The administration of testosterone propionate has caused weight gain in some of our cases.