Association between myostatin serum concentration and body fat level in peri- and postmenopausal women

Introduction: Every year over 25 million women worldwide experience menopause symptoms. Menopause leads to the occurrence and intensifica-tion of many psychological and somatic disorders including body composi-tion change. Myostatin may play a crucial role in the remodeling of muscle and fat tissue. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship be-tween the level of body fat and the concentration of myostatin protein in serum of peri-or postmenopausal women. Material and methods: The study included 300 Caucasian women (in per-imenopause or postmenopause). Detailed data were collected at a single time point from all enrolled women. The data included: age, body mass in-dex, hormone replacement therapy and body fat. Measurements of adipose tissue were performed using electronic skinfold calipers. Serum levels of myostatin were determined using a Human Myostatin ELISA Kit. Results: The mean myostatin concentration in blood serum was 6.58 +/- 3.59 ng/ml. The mean percentage of body fat was 32.7 +/- 6.3 (range: 16.1-50.7). The percentages of women in particular groups of body fat level (I, II, III, IV and V) were 1.7%, 11%, 35.3%, 30.7% and 21.3% respectively. Myostatin level in blood serum was significantly lower (median concentrations: 5.5 vs. 7.0 ng/ml, p = 0.0269) in subjects with higher body fat (groups IV and V) compared to those classified as having a normal or low level of body fat (groups I-III). Myostatin was an independent predictive factor of the occur-rence of high body fat (p = 0.0463). Conclusions: Decreased level of myostatin is related to higher level of body fat in peri-and postmenopausal women.

Automated summary

This study examined the relationship between body fat level and serum concentration of myostatin protein in peri- and postmenopausal women. The results showed that a decreased level of myostatin is associated with higher body fat in these women.