Murielle Bochud1, Belen Ponte2, Menno Pruijm3, Daniel Ackermann4,5, Idris Guessous6, Georg Ehret7, Geneviève Escher4,5, Michael Groessl4,5, Sandrine Estoppey Younes1, Claudia H d'Uscio4,5, Michel Burnier3, Pierre-Yves Martin2, Antoinette Pechère-Bertschi8, Bruno Vogt4,5, Nasser A Dhayat4,5. 1. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. 2. Nephrology Service, Department of Specialties of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 3. Nephrology Service, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. 4. Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. 5. Department of Clinical Research, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. 6. Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 7. Cardiology Service, Department of Specialties of Internal Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 8. Endocrinology Service, Department of Specialties of Internal Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Sex steroid hormones exhibit anabolic effects whereas a deficiency engenders sarcopenia. Moreover, supraphysiological levels of glucocorticoids promote skeletal muscle atrophy, whereas physiologic levels of glucocorticoids may improve muscle performance. OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between both groups of steroid hormones at a physiological range with skeletal muscle mass and function in the general population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of the associations between urinary excreted androgens, estrogens, glucocorticoids, and steroid hormone metabolite ratios with lean mass and handgrip strength in a population-based cohort. SETTING: Three centers in Switzerland including 1128 participants. MEASURES: Urinary steroid hormone metabolite excretion by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, lean mass by bioimpedance analysis, and isometric handgrip strength by dynamometry. RESULTS: For lean mass a strong positive association was found with 11β-OH-androsterone and with most glucocorticoids. Androsterone showed a positive association in middle-aged and older adults. Estriol showed a positive association only in men. For handgrip strength, strong positive associations with androgens were found in middle-aged and older adults, whereas positive associations were found with cortisol metabolites in young to middle-aged adults. CONCLUSIONS: Sex steroids and glucocorticoids are strongly positively associated with skeletal muscle mass and strength in the upper limbs. The associations with muscle strength appear to be independent of muscle mass. Steroid hormones exert age-specific anabolic effects on lean mass and handgrip strength. Deficits in physical performance of aged muscles may be attenuated by androgens, whereas glucocorticoids in a physiological range increase skeletal muscle mass at all ages, as well as muscle strength in particular in younger adults.
CONTEXT: Sex steroid hormones exhibit anabolic effects whereas a deficiency engenders sarcopenia. Moreover, supraphysiological levels of glucocorticoids promote skeletal muscle atrophy, whereas physiologic levels of glucocorticoids may improve muscle performance. OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between both groups of steroid hormones at a physiological range with skeletal muscle mass and function in the general population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of the associations between urinary excreted androgens, estrogens, glucocorticoids, and steroid hormone metabolite ratios with lean mass and handgrip strength in a population-based cohort. SETTING: Three centers in Switzerland including 1128 participants. MEASURES: Urinary steroid hormone metabolite excretion by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, lean mass by bioimpedance analysis, and isometric handgrip strength by dynamometry. RESULTS: For lean mass a strong positive association was found with 11β-OH-androsterone and with most glucocorticoids. Androsterone showed a positive association in middle-aged and older adults. Estriol showed a positive association only in men. For handgrip strength, strong positive associations with androgens were found in middle-aged and older adults, whereas positive associations were found with cortisol metabolites in young to middle-aged adults. CONCLUSIONS: Sex steroids and glucocorticoids are strongly positively associated with skeletal muscle mass and strength in the upper limbs. The associations with muscle strength appear to be independent of muscle mass. Steroid hormones exert age-specific anabolic effects on lean mass and handgrip strength. Deficits in physical performance of aged muscles may be attenuated by androgens, whereas glucocorticoids in a physiological range increase skeletal muscle mass at all ages, as well as muscle strength in particular in younger adults.
Authors: Daniel Ackermann; Michael Groessl; Menno Pruijm; Belen Ponte; Geneviève Escher; Claudia H d'Uscio; Idris Guessous; Georg Ehret; Antoinette Pechère-Bertschi; Pierre-Yves Martin; Michel Burnier; Bernhard Dick; Bruno Vogt; Murielle Bochud; Valentin Rousson; Nasser A Dhayat Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-03-29 Impact factor: 3.240