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Publications

Journal Article Ppublish 1 citation

PubMed: 42415341 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.70329

Association of Testosterone With Lean Soft Tissue and Handgrip Strength Across Middle-Aged Men.

J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 17(4):e70329

Authors: Konstantinos Prokopidis, Stefano Cacciatore, Joseph McLean, Paolo Piaggi, Carla M Prado, John A Batsis, Mathias Schlögl

Affiliations

  • Department of Musculoskeletal Ageing and Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
  • Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
  • Androlabs, London, UK.
  • Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
  • Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
  • Division of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, and Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
  • Geriatric Medicine, Clinic Barmelweid AG, Barmelweid, Switzerland.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Testosterone declines by 0.4%-2% annually after the age of 30 and is potentially linked with muscle mass and strength. This study examined how testosterone levels are associated with handgrip strength (HGS) and appendicular lean soft tissue index (ALSTI) in men aged 40-49 and 50-59 years.

METHODS

Data were sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles (2011-2014). The median values of each cohort (378.2 and 378.6 ng/dL for those aged 40-49 and 50-59 years of age, respectively) and the European Association of Urology guidelines were used to define higher serum testosterone, HGS and ALSTI. Linear and logistic regressions assessed associations between higher/lower serum testosterone with higher/lower HGS and ALSTI for each age group.

RESULTS

In 1001 men aged 40-59 years, higher total testosterone levels were positively associated with higher HGS, with stronger links in the 50- to 59-year-olds (b = 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08-2.62, p < 0.01). In this group, higher testosterone was linked to increased odds ratio (OR) of having higher HGS (OR: 1.73, 95% CI 1.17-2.55, p < 0.01). Per European Association of Urology guidelines, men with testosterone levels above deficiency (≥ 230 ng/dL) had higher odds of increased ALSTI versus those with deficiency (OR: 3.31, 95% CI 1.42-7.74, p < 0.01), while normal testosterone (> 346 ng/dL) versus deficiency showed a significant albeit weaker association (OR: 2.48, 95% CI 1.35-4.57, p < 0.01). Linear regression confirmed an ALSTI increase above deficiency (b = 0.20, 95% CI 0.05-0.34, p < 0.01); however, normal versus suspected deficiency for total testosterone was linked to a small but potentially minor clinically significant difference with ALSTI in the whole cohort (b = 0.10, 95% CI 0.00-0.19, p = 0.049). Normal testosterone was linked to higher HGS overall (OR: 1.37, 95% CI 1.05-1.80, p = 0.02) and in men aged 50-59 years (OR: 1.53, 95% CI 1.03-2.28, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Normal and higher than deficiency testosterone levels in men aged 40-59, particularly 50- to 59-year-olds, are associated with higher HGS and ALSTI compared with those with deficient testosterone concentrations.

MeSH

Serum, Body Composition, Testosterone, Aged, Muscle Strength, Tissues, Cachexia, Sarcopenia