Serum testosterone levels may influence body composition and cardiometabolic health in men with spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To establish the association between serum testosterone (T) levels, biomarkers of cardiometabolic health and regional body composition variables after spinal cord injury (SCI).

SETTING

Medical research center.

METHODS

Metabolic and body composition measurements were collected from thirty-six men with chronic motor complete SCI. Serum T, carbohydrate, and lipid profiles were measured after an overnight fast. Body composition was measured using anthropometrics, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and magnetic resonance imaging. Participants were evenly classified into tertiles based on their serum T levels into low, mid-normal and normal ranges.

RESULTS

Low, mid-normal, and normal range serum T were 288.8 ± 84.9 ng/dL, 461.0 ± 52.5 ng/dL and 648.0 ± 53.5 ng/dL, respectively. Low range serum T group had greater total (9.6%, P = 0.04) percentage fat mass and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area (72%, P = 0.01) compared to normal range serum T group. Serum T was related to the absolute whole thigh muscle area (r = 0.40, P < 0.05) after controlling for body mass index. Serum T was negatively related to fasting plasma glucose (r = -0.46, P = 0.006) and insulin (r = -0.42, P = 0.01), HbA1c (r = -0.39, P = 0.02) and triglycerides (r = -0.36, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Men with low serum T have more unfavorable body composition and cardiometabolic health outcomes after SCI. Testosterone replacement therapy may serve as a potential strategy in preventing cardiometabolic disorders after SCI.