Testosterone levels positively linked to muscle mass but not strength in adult males aged 20–59 years: a cross-sectional study
BackgroundThe relationship between testosterone levels and muscle mass and strength remains contentious. This study aimed to explore the relationship among total serum testosterone levels, muscle mass, and strength in young to middle-aged adults.MethodsThe analysis included 4,495 participants (age 3...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1512268/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849731606355378176 |
|---|---|
| author | Wei Zhang Zhaohui Cui Dayong Shen Li Gao Qingyun Li |
| author_facet | Wei Zhang Zhaohui Cui Dayong Shen Li Gao Qingyun Li |
| author_sort | Wei Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe relationship between testosterone levels and muscle mass and strength remains contentious. This study aimed to explore the relationship among total serum testosterone levels, muscle mass, and strength in young to middle-aged adults.MethodsThe analysis included 4,495 participants (age 39.2 ± 0.2 years, mean ± SE) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2011 and 2014. Weighted regression models were used to assess the association of testosterone levels with muscle mass and strength.ResultsFor male participants, log2-transformed testosterone levels were positively associated with appendicular lean mass adjusted for body mass index (β: 0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03–0.07, P < 0.001) and negatively associated with low muscle mass (odds ratio: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.24–0.67, P = 0.006). However, no significant association was found between testosterone levels and grip strength (β: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.26 to 2.58, P = 0.086) or low muscle strength (odds ratio: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.25–1.04, P = 0.059). For female participants, no significant association was observed between testosterone levels and muscle mass (β: 0.01, 95% CI: 0.02 to −0.01, P = 0.294) or muscle strength (β: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.73, P = 0.508). Restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a linear relationship between total testosterone levels and appendicular lean mass adjusted for body mass index in male participants (nonlinear: P = 0.367).ConclusionOur study indicates that testosterone levels are positively associated with muscle mass but not with muscle strength in young to middle-aged males. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a2ed0df435f34d3eaba644386c57fd44 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-a2ed0df435f34d3eaba644386c57fd442025-08-20T03:08:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-04-011610.3389/fphys.2025.15122681512268Testosterone levels positively linked to muscle mass but not strength in adult males aged 20–59 years: a cross-sectional studyWei Zhang0Zhaohui Cui1Dayong Shen2Li Gao3Qingyun Li4Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaBackgroundThe relationship between testosterone levels and muscle mass and strength remains contentious. This study aimed to explore the relationship among total serum testosterone levels, muscle mass, and strength in young to middle-aged adults.MethodsThe analysis included 4,495 participants (age 39.2 ± 0.2 years, mean ± SE) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2011 and 2014. Weighted regression models were used to assess the association of testosterone levels with muscle mass and strength.ResultsFor male participants, log2-transformed testosterone levels were positively associated with appendicular lean mass adjusted for body mass index (β: 0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03–0.07, P < 0.001) and negatively associated with low muscle mass (odds ratio: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.24–0.67, P = 0.006). However, no significant association was found between testosterone levels and grip strength (β: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.26 to 2.58, P = 0.086) or low muscle strength (odds ratio: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.25–1.04, P = 0.059). For female participants, no significant association was observed between testosterone levels and muscle mass (β: 0.01, 95% CI: 0.02 to −0.01, P = 0.294) or muscle strength (β: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.73, P = 0.508). Restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a linear relationship between total testosterone levels and appendicular lean mass adjusted for body mass index in male participants (nonlinear: P = 0.367).ConclusionOur study indicates that testosterone levels are positively associated with muscle mass but not with muscle strength in young to middle-aged males.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1512268/fullsex differencestestosteronemuscle massmuscle strengthNHANES |
| spellingShingle | Wei Zhang Zhaohui Cui Dayong Shen Li Gao Qingyun Li Testosterone levels positively linked to muscle mass but not strength in adult males aged 20–59 years: a cross-sectional study Frontiers in Physiology sex differences testosterone muscle mass muscle strength NHANES |
| title | Testosterone levels positively linked to muscle mass but not strength in adult males aged 20–59 years: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Testosterone levels positively linked to muscle mass but not strength in adult males aged 20–59 years: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Testosterone levels positively linked to muscle mass but not strength in adult males aged 20–59 years: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testosterone levels positively linked to muscle mass but not strength in adult males aged 20–59 years: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Testosterone levels positively linked to muscle mass but not strength in adult males aged 20–59 years: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | testosterone levels positively linked to muscle mass but not strength in adult males aged 20 59 years a cross sectional study |
| topic | sex differences testosterone muscle mass muscle strength NHANES |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1512268/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT weizhang testosteronelevelspositivelylinkedtomusclemassbutnotstrengthinadultmalesaged2059yearsacrosssectionalstudy AT zhaohuicui testosteronelevelspositivelylinkedtomusclemassbutnotstrengthinadultmalesaged2059yearsacrosssectionalstudy AT dayongshen testosteronelevelspositivelylinkedtomusclemassbutnotstrengthinadultmalesaged2059yearsacrosssectionalstudy AT ligao testosteronelevelspositivelylinkedtomusclemassbutnotstrengthinadultmalesaged2059yearsacrosssectionalstudy AT qingyunli testosteronelevelspositivelylinkedtomusclemassbutnotstrengthinadultmalesaged2059yearsacrosssectionalstudy |