Relationship between Low Free Testosterone Levels and Loss of Muscle Mass

We assessed longitudinal relationships between baseline testosterone and muscle mass changes in Japanese men. Data were collected from community-dwelling 957 adult men who participated in a longitudinal study of ageing biennially from 1997-2010. Appendicular muscle mass (AMM) was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and follow-up examinations. The cut-off point of sarcopenia was defined as a skeletal muscle index (AMM/height(2)), 6.87 kg/m(2). Total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) were measured with a radioimmunoassay. The calculated FT (cFT) was determined with a formula using albumin, TT, and sex hormone-binding globulin levels. We analyzed 4,187 or 2,010 cumulative data points using generalized estimating equations. Low TT was not associated with sarcopenia. Low cFT (odds ratio = 2.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.06-4.33) and FT (odds ratio = 1.83, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-3.22) were associated with sarcopenia. Low FT may be a predictor of risk for muscle loss in Japanese men.