scholarly journals Transgender Women in the Female Category of Sport: Perspectives on Testosterone Suppression and Performance Advantage

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma N. Hilton ◽  
Tommy R. Lundberg
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Total Serum ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Performance Gap ◽  
Transgender Persons ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Male Performance

AbstractMales enjoy physical performance advantages over females within competitive sport. The sex-based segregation into male and female sporting categories does not account for transgender persons who experience incongruence between their biological sex and their experienced gender identity. Accordingly, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) determined criteria by which a transgender woman may be eligible to compete in the female category, requiring total serum testosterone levels to be suppressed below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months prior to and during competition. Whether this regulation removes the male performance advantage has not been scrutinized. Here, we review how differences in biological characteristics between biological males and females affect sporting performance and assess whether evidence exists to support the assumption that testosterone suppression in transgender women removes the male performance advantage and thus delivers fair and safe competition. We report that the performance gap between males and females becomes significant at puberty and often amounts to 10–50% depending on sport. The performance gap is more pronounced in sporting activities relying on muscle mass and explosive strength, particularly in the upper body. Longitudinal studies examining the effects of testosterone suppression on muscle mass and strength in transgender women consistently show very modest changes, where the loss of lean body mass, muscle area and strength typically amounts to approximately 5% after 12 months of treatment. Thus, the muscular advantage enjoyed by transgender women is only minimally reduced when testosterone is suppressed. Sports organizations should consider this evidence when reassessing current policies regarding participation of transgender women in the female category of sport.

scholarly journals Transgender Women in The Female Category of Sport: Is the Male Performance Advantage Removed by Testosterone Suppression?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma N. Hilton ◽  
Tommy R. Lundberg
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Total Serum ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Performance Gap ◽  
Transgender Persons ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Male Performance

Sex dimorphism starts during early embryogenesis and is further manifested in response to hormones during puberty. As this leads to physical divergence that is measurably different between sexes, males enjoy physical performance advantages over females within competitive sport. While this advantage is the underlying basis of the segregation into male and female sporting categories, these sex-based categories do not account for transgender persons who experience incongruence between their biological sex and their experienced gender identity. Accordingly, the International Olympic Committee determined criteria by which a transgender woman may be eligible to compete in the female category, requiring total serum testosterone levels to be suppressed below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months prior to and during competition. Whether this regulation removes the male performance advantage has not been collectively scrutinized. Here, we aim to review how differences in biological characteristics between biological males and females affect sporting performance and assess whether evidence exists to support the assumption that testosterone suppression in transgender women removes the male performance advantage. In this review, we report that the performance gap between males and females amounts to 10-50% depending on sport. The performance gap is more pronounced in sporting activities relying on muscle mass and strength, particularly in the upper body. Longitudinal studies examining the effects of testosterone suppression on muscle mass and strength in transgender women consistently show very modest changes, where the loss of lean body mass, muscle area and strength typically amounts to approximately 5% after 1 year of treatment. Thus, current evidence shows that the biological advantage enjoyed by transgender women is only minimally reduced when testosterone is suppressed. Sports organizations may therefore be compelled to reassess current policies regarding participation of transgender women in the female category of sport.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Low Testosterone According to Health Behavior in Older Adults Men

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Duk Han Ko ◽  
Seong Eon Kim ◽  
Ji Young Lee
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Mass ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Total Serum ◽  
Strength Exercise ◽  
Mass Model ◽  
Exercise Habits ◽  
Low Testosterone ◽  
Adjustment Variable ◽  
Mass Increase

Testosterone is a representative sex hormone for men, and low testosterone causes erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between low testosterone (LTT) and health behaviors, such as alcohol, smoking, and exercise habits. We included 2980 men aged 65 to 80. Total serum testosterone and body composition were measured. A testosterone level less than 300 ng/dL was defined as low testosterone. A questionnaire on smoking, alcohol, and exercise was included. The odds ratio (OR) of LTT was calculated through logistic regression. Model 1 only used age as the adjustment variable, whereas Model 2 adjusted for age, waist circumference, and smoking. The prevalence of LTT was 626 (21.0%). The prevalence of LTT was significant in fat mass (Model 1: OR, 2.133) and muscle mass (Model 1: medium OR, 2.130 and low OR, 3.022; Model 2: medium OR, 1.638 and low OR, 1.740). The prevalence of LTT was also different based on smoking (Model 1: OR, 1.590; Model 2: OR, 1.629) and strength exercise (Model 1: OR, 0.849; Model 2: OR, 0.923). In conclusion, high frequency strength exercise and smoking cessation lower the prevalence of low testosterone, and obesity and low muscle mass increase the prevalence of low testosterone.

SERUM HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS IN TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING GENDER AFFIRMING HORMONE THERAPY: A LONGITUDINAL RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panicha Chantrapanichkul ◽  
Mary O. Stevenson ◽  
Pichatorn Suppakitjanusant ◽  
Michael Goodman ◽  
Vin Tangpricha
Keyword(s):  
Hormone Therapy ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin ◽  
Total Serum ◽  
Hormone Levels ◽  
Trans Men ◽  
Transgender Persons ◽  
Serum Hormone ◽  
Trans Women

Objective: To examine the association of various gender affirmation hormone therapy (GAHT) regimens with blood hormone concentrations in transgender individuals. Methods: This retrospective study included transgender persons receiving GAHT between January 2000 and September 2018. Data on patient demographics, laboratory values, and hormone dose and frequency were collected. Non-parametric tests and linear regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with serum hormone concentrations. Results: Overall 196 subjects (134 trans women, 62 trans men) with a total of 941 clinical visits were included into this study. Trans men receiving transdermal testosterone had a significantly lower median value of total serum testosterone when compared to those who were receiving injectable preparations (326.0 vs. 524.5 ng/dL respectively, p=0.018). Serum total estradiol concentrations of trans women was higher in those receiving intramuscular estrogen compared to those receiving oral and transdermal estrogen (366.0 vs. 102.0 vs. 70.8 pg/mL respectively, p<0.001). A dose dependent response in hormone levels was observed for oral estradiol (p<0.001) and injectable testosterone (p=0.018), but not for intramuscular estradiol and not for transdermal formulations. Older age and history of gonadectomy in both trans men and women were associated with significantly higher concentrations of serum gender-affirmed hormone. Conclusion: In trans men, all routes and formulations of testosterone appear to be equally effective in achieving concentrations in the male range. Intramuscular injections of estradiol resulted in the highest serum concentrations of estradiol whereas transdermal estradiol resulted in the lowest concentration. Dose was directly related to hormone levels for oral estradiol and injectable testosterone. Abbreviations: TGGNB = Transgender and gender non-binary; GAHT = gender affirming hormone therapy, SD = standard deviation, BMI = body mass index, IQR = interquartile range, VTE = venous thromboembolism, HDL = high-density lipoprotein, TG = triglycerides, LDL = low-density lipoprotein, SHBG = sex hormone binding globulin.

Relationships Between Propulsion and Anthropometry in Paralympic Swimmers

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 978-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. Dingley ◽  
David B. Pyne ◽  
Brendan Burkett
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Physical Disability ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Swimming Velocity ◽  
Frontal Surface ◽  
Anthropometric Measures ◽  
Arm Span ◽  
Upper Body Power

Purpose:To characterize relationships between propulsion, anthropometry, and performance in Paralympic swimming.Methods:A cross-sectional study of swimmers (13 male, 15 female) age 20.5 ± 4.4 y was conducted. Subject locomotor categorizations were no physical disability (n = 8, classes S13–S14) and low-severity (n = 11, classes S9–S10) or midseverity disability (n = 9, classes S6–S8). Full anthropometric profiles estimated muscle mass and body fat, a bilateral swim-bench ergometer quantified upper-body power production, and 100-m time trials quantified swimming performance.Results:Correlations between ergometer mean power and swimming performance increased with degree of physical disability (low-severity male r = .65, ±0.56, and female r = .68, ±0.64; midseverity, r = .87, ±0.41, and r = .79, ±0.75). The female midseverity group showed nearperfect (positive) relationships for taller swimmers’ (with a greater muscle mass and longer arm span) swimming faster, while for female no- and low-severity-disability groups, greater muscle mass was associated with slower velocity (r = .78, ±0.43, and r = .65, ±0.66). This was supported with lighter females (with less frontal surface area) in the low-severity group being faster (r = .94, ±0.24). In a gender contrast, low-severity males with less muscle mass (r = -.64, ±0.56), high skinfolds (r = .78, ±0.43), a longer arm span (r = .58, ±0.60) or smaller frontal surface area (r = -.93, ±0.19) were detrimental to swimming-velocity production.Conclusion:Low-severity male and midseverity female Paralympic swimmers should be encouraged to develop muscle mass and upper-body power to enhance swimming performance. The generalized anthropometric measures appear to be a secondary consideration for coaches.

scholarly journals Skeletal muscle mass at C3 may not be a strong predictor for skeletal muscle mass at L3 in sarcopenic patients with head and neck cancer

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254844
Author(s):  
Joon-Kee Yoon ◽  
Jeon Yeob Jang ◽  
Young-Sil An ◽  
Su Jin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Prediction Model ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Skeletal Muscle Mass ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of using skeletal muscle mass (SMM) at C3 (C3 SMM) as a diagnostic marker for sarcopenia in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Methods We evaluated 165 HNC patients and 42 healthy adults who underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans. The paravertebral muscle area at C3 and skeletal muscle area at L3 were measured by CT. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the relationship between L3 and C3 SMMs. The prediction model for L3 SMM was developed by multiple linear regression. Then the correlation and the agreement between actual and predicted L3 SMMs were assessed. To evaluate the diagnostic value of C3 SMM for sarcopenia, the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were analyzed. Results Of the 165 HNC patients, 61 (37.0%) were sarcopenic and 104 (63.0%) were non-sarcopenic. A very strong correlation was found between L3 SMM and C3 SMM in both healthy adults (r = 0.864) and non-sarcopenic patients (r = 0.876), while a fair association was found in sarcopenic patients (r = 0.381). Prediction model showed a very strong correlation between actual SMM and predicted L3 SMM in both non-sarcopenic patients and healthy adults (r > 0.9), whereas the relationship was moderate in sarcopenic patients (r = 0.7633). The agreement between two measurements was good for healthy subjects and non-sarcopenic patients, while it was poor for sarcopenic patients. On ROC analysis, predicted L3 SMM showed poor diagnostic accuracy for sarcopenia. Conclusions A correlation between L3 and C3 SMMs was weak in sarcopenic patients. A prediction model also showed a poor diagnostic accuracy. Therefore, C3 SMM may not be a strong predictor for L3 SMM in sarcopenic patients with HNC.

Abnormal body composition in patients with adrenal adenomas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danae Delivanis ◽  
Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade ◽  
Tiffany Cortes ◽  
Shobana Athimulam ◽  
Aakanksha Khanna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Visceral Fat ◽  
Cushing Syndrome ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cortisol Secretion ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Skeletal Muscle Area

Objective: Increased visceral fat and sarcopenia are cardiovascular risk factors that may explain increased cardiovascular morbidity and frailty in patients with adrenal adenomas. Our objective was to compare body composition measurement of patients with adrenal adenomas to referent subjects without adrenal disease Design: Cross-sectional study, 2014-2018 Methods: Participants were adults with nonfunctioning adrenal tumor (NFAT), mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) and Cushing syndrome (CS), and age, sex and body mass index 1:1 matched referent subjects without adrenal disorders. Main outcome measures were body composition measurements calculated from abdominal computed tomography imaging. Intraabdominal adipose tissue and muscle mass measurements were performed at the 3rd lumbar spine level. Results: Of 227 patients with adrenal adenomas, 20 were diagnosed with CS, 76 with MACS and 131 with NFAT. Median age was 56 years (range, 18-89), and 67% were women. When compared to referent subjects, patients with CS, MACS, and NFAT demonstrated a higher visceral fat (odds ratio (OR) of 2.2 [95% CI 0.9-6.5], 2.0 [1.3-3.2], and 1.8 [1.2-2.7] and a lower skeletal muscle area (OR of 0.01 [95% CI 0-0.09], 0.31 [0.18-0.49], and 0.3 [1.2-2.7]), respectively. For every 1 mcg/dL cortisol increase after overnight dexamethasone, visceral fat/muscle area ratio increased by 2.3 (P=0.02) and mean total skeletal muscle area decreased by 2.2cm2 (P=0.03). Conclusion: Patients with adrenal adenomas demonstrate a lower muscle mass and a higher proportion of visceral fat when compared to referent subjects, including patients with NFAT. Even a subtle abnormality in cortisol secretion may impact health of patients with adenomas.

scholarly journals The Impact of Wood, Cigarette and Marijuana Smoke on the Reproductive Health of Tandoor Occupants

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Ghulam Nabi ◽  
Muhammad Amin ◽  
Jeena Urooj ◽  
Muhammad Kamil ◽  
Ayaz Ali Khan
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Total Serum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fuel Type ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Testosterone Concentration ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of wood, cigarette and marijuana smoke on the reproductive health of tandoor occupants. A total of 100 male individuals were selected (50 control and 50 tandoor occupants). A standard questionnaire was designed regarding their age, economic status, marital status, fuel type, exposure time (per day), use of mask, addiction and reproductive health. Morning blood samples of 5 mL of the size were taken from all participants. Serums were obtained and analyzed for total serum testosterone concentration. Bio-check (USA) kit was used according to the manufacturer protocol and procedures for testosterone analysis. In control group the mean ± SEM of total serum testosterone was 671.9 ± 20.02 ng/dl where as in tandoor occupants it was 542.7 ± 16.40 ng/dl. There was a significant reduction (P**** < 0.0001) in total serum testosterone concentration in tandoor occupants as compared to control group. Reproductive health problems like, low libido, erection problems, infertility, decreased frequency for shaving and absent morning and nocturnal erection were common in tandoor occupants as compared to control group. Wood, cigarette and marijuana smoke negatively affects testosterone concentration and lowers it significantly. This reduced testosterone concentration then produces ill effects like low libido, erection problems, infertility and absent morning and nocturnal erection. 

Androgen and glucocorticoid mechanisms in exercise-induced cardiac hypertrophy

1984 ◽  
Vol 246 (6) ◽  
pp. H761-H767 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Hickson ◽  
T. M. Galassi ◽  
T. T. Kurowski ◽  
D. G. Daniels ◽  
R. T. Chatterton
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Dissociation Constants ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Rest Period ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Total Serum ◽  
Ventricular Tissue ◽  
Exercise Induced

Female rats were trained daily by means of two 2-h-long bouts of swimming separated by a 30- to 40-min rest period. Absolute ventricular weights of the swimmers were increased above sedentary control values by 6% after 2 days, 15% after 7 days, and 30% after 35 days of exercise. Resting levels of total and free serum testosterone and total 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone were not altered by the training. Total serum corticosterone concentrations at rest were significantly lower in the 7-day (149 +/- 16 ng/ml) and 35-day (169 +/- 24) swimmers compared with the controls (293 +/- 26). However, free corticosterone was not significantly reduced from controls in any of the swimming groups. Ventricular muscle cytosol androgen receptor binding dissociation constants and receptor binding capacities, measured using [3H]methyltrienolone (R1881), were not significantly different from control values in the exercised groups. Glucocorticoid cytosol receptor binding capacity in ventricular tissue, determined using [3H]dexamethasone, was significantly increased as femtomoles per milligram protein (39.3 +/- 3.1 vs. 31.4 +/- 1.4) and femtomoles per milligram DNA (2,683 +/- 226 vs. 1,786 +/- 71). These findings show that glucocorticoids, rather than androgens, undergo adaptive changes in the circulation and in muscle during the development of exercise-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Decrease in serum testosterone levels after short-term occupational exposure to diisononyl phthalate in male workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 214-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Bernard Henrotin ◽  
Eva Feigerlova ◽  
Alain Robert ◽  
Mathieu Dziurla ◽  
Manuela Burgart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Total Serum ◽  
Total Testosterone ◽  
Type I ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Short Term Exposure ◽  
Diisononyl Phthalate ◽  
Male Workers

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to examine the effects of occupational exposure to diisononyl phthalate (DINP) on serum testosterone levels in male workers.MethodsFrom 2015 to 2018, 97 male workers were recruited from six French factories in the plastics industry. In a short longitudinal study, changes over 3 days in the level of total or free serum testosterone and DINP exposure were measured. DINP exposure was measured by urinary biomonitoring: mono-4-methyl-7-oxo-octyl phthalate (OXO-MINP), mono-4-methyl-7-hydroxy-octyl phthalate (OH-MINP) and mono-4-methyl-7-carboxyheptylphthalate (CX-MINP). We further analysed changes in follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, total testosterone to oestradiol ratio and two bone turnover markers (procollagen-type-I-N propeptide, C terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen), and erectile dysfunction via standardised questionnaires (International Index of Erectile Function, Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males). Linear mixed models were used with the variables ‘age’ and ‘abdominal diameter’ included as confounder.ResultsIncreased urinary OXO-MINP was associated with a significant decrease in total serum testosterone concentrations, but only for workers who exhibited the smallest variations and lowest exposures (p=0.002). The same pattern was observed for CX-MINP but was not significant; no association with OH-MINP was detectable. More self-reported erectile problems were found in workers exposed directly to DINP at the workstation (p=0.01). No changes were observed for the other biological parameters.ConclusionsShort-term exposure to DINP is associated with a decrease in total serum testosterone levels in male workers. Our results suggest that DINP could present weak antiandrogenic properties in humans, but these need to be confirmed by other studies.

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