Research

Hormonal

The ER22/23EK polymorphism is associated with increased lean body mass and muscle strength in young adult males, and reduced abdominal fat measures in young adult females, due to relative glucocorticoid resistance.

For young adults carrying the ER22/23EK variant, your body composition may naturally favor higher muscle mass in men and lower abdominal fat in women. This is a genetic advantage. Focus on resistance training to maximize this potential in men, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to preserve this favorable fat distribution in women.

GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
In males aged 36 and 32 years, we found ER22/23EK carriers to be, on average, 5 cm taller... lean body mass was significantly higher in male carriers... muscle strength... also was significantly greater. In females... Waist circumferences tended to be smaller in female ER22/23EK carriers at young-adult age.
Elisabeth F. C. van Rossum · Recent Progress in Hormone Research · 2004

Why this rating

Consistent findings in a longitudinal cohort study from age 13 to 36.

Source

Polymorphisms in the Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene and Their Associations with Metabolic Parameters and Body Composition

Elisabeth F. C. van Rossum · Recent Progress in Hormone Research · 2004

DOI 10.1210/rp.59.1.333

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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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