Hormonal
Severe testosterone deficiency in young men causes marked decreases in whole-body protein synthesis and fat-free mass, alongside increased adiposity and decreased muscle strength, independent of changes in systemic GH or IGF-I production.
For young men, maintaining normal testosterone levels is critical for preserving muscle mass and preventing fat gain. If testosterone drops significantly (e.g., due to medical treatment or pathology), you will lose muscle and gain fat even if your growth hormone levels remain normal. This is not just about 'energy balance'; the hormone directly alters how your body processes protein and fat.
In conclusion, testosterone deficiency in young men is associated with a marked decrease in measures of whole body protein anabolism, decreased strength, decreased fat oxidation, and increased adiposity. These effects of testosterone deficiency are independent of changes in peripheral GH production and IGF-I concentrations...
Why this rating
Randomized, controlled, crossover design with rigorous metabolic measurements (isotope tracers, DEXA, dynamometry) on healthy young men.
Source
Testosterone Deficiency in Young Men: Marked Alterations in Whole Body Protein Kinetics, Strength, and Adiposity<sup>1</sup>
Nelly Mauras et al. · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 1998
DOI 10.1210/jcem.83.6.4892
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- Testosterone deficiency reduces whole-body protein synthesis and proteolysis rates, leading to a net decrease in protein anabolism, independent of plasma amino acid concentrations.Good
- Testosterone deficiency decreases lipid oxidation rates and resting energy expenditure, leading to increased adiposity, independent of changes in Growth Hormone (GH) production.Good
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