Dataset Information

Changes in testosterone related to body composition in late midlife: Findings from the 1946 British birth cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Randomized trials in men with testosterone deficiency have provided evidence of short-term effects of testosterone therapy on muscle and fat mass but it is unclear whether this persists over a longer period or how testosterone affects women. We examined whether the midlife decline in testosterone relates to fat and lean mass in both sexes.

Methods

Data were collected from 440 men and 560 women participating in the 1946 British birth cohort study with testosterone measured at 53 and/or 60-64 years. Fat and appendicular lean mass were measured at 60-64 years using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Results

Mean free testosterone concentrations were lower at 60-64 than 53 years, by 26% in both sexes. At both ages testosterone was negatively associated with fat mass in men and positively associated in women. A larger decline in free testosterone was associated with higher fat mass in men but with lower fat mass among women. In contrast, declines in testosterone were not associated with lean mass in either sex.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest sex-divergent relationships between testosterone and fat mass and their distribution but do not support the hypothesis that midlife declines in testosterone lead to lower lean mass.

SUBMITTER: Bann D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4744737 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Changes in testosterone related to body composition in late midlife: Findings from the 1946 British birth cohort study.

Bann David D Wu Frederick C W FC Keevil Brian B Lashen Hany H Adams Judith J Hardy Rebecca R Muniz Graciela G Kuh Diana D Ben-Shlomo Yoav Y Ong Ken K KK

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) 20150605 7

<h4>Objective</h4>Randomized trials in men with testosterone deficiency have provided evidence of short-term effects of testosterone therapy on muscle and fat mass but it is unclear whether this persists over a longer period or how testosterone affects women. We examined whether the midlife decline in testosterone relates to fat and lean mass in both sexes.<h4>Methods</h4>Data were collected from 440 men and 560 women participating in the 1946 British birth cohort study with testosterone measure ...[more]

PMID: 26053924

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Project description:Investigating associations between metabolites and late midlife cognitive function could reveal potential markers and mechanisms relevant to early dementia. Here, we systematically explored the metabolic correlates of cognitive outcomes measured across the seventh decade of life, while untangling influencing life course factors. Using levels of 1019 metabolites profiled by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (age 60-64), we evaluated relationships between metabolites and cognitive outcomes in the British 1946 Birth Cohort (N = 1740). We additionally conducted pathway and network analyses to allow for greater insight into potential mechanisms, and sequentially adjusted for life course factors across four models, including sex and blood collection (Model 1), Model 1 + body mass index and lipid medication (Model 2), Model 2 + social factors and childhood cognition (Model 3) and Model 3 + lifestyle influences (Model 4). After adjusting for multiple tests, 155 metabolites, 10 pathways and 5 network modules were associated with cognitive outcomes. Of the 155, 35 metabolites were highly connected in their network module (termed 'hub' metabolites), presenting as promising marker candidates. Notably, we report relationships between a module comprised of acylcarnitines and processing speed which remained robust to life course adjustment, revealing palmitoylcarnitine (C16) as a hub (Model 4: β = -0.10, 95% confidence interval = -0.15 to -0.052, P = 5.99 × 10-5). Most associations were sensitive to adjustment for social factors and childhood cognition; in the final model, four metabolites remained after multiple testing correction, and 80 at P < 0.05. Two modules demonstrated associations that were partly or largely attenuated by life course factors: one enriched in modified nucleosides and amino acids (overall attenuation = 39.2-55.5%), and another in vitamin A and C metabolites (overall attenuation = 68.6-92.6%). Our other findings, including a module enriched in sphingolipid pathways, were entirely explained by life course factors, particularly childhood cognition and education. Using a large birth cohort study with information across the life course, we highlighted potential metabolic mechanisms associated with cognitive function in late midlife, suggesting marker candidates and life course relationships for further study.

Dataset Information

Changes in testosterone related to body composition in late midlife: Findings from the 1946 British birth cohort study.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Changes in testosterone related to body composition in late midlife: Findings from the 1946 British birth cohort study.

Similar Datasets

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