Objective: To determine the relationship between serum testosterone level and lean body mass, body fat content, and bone mineral density (BMD).
Methods: The study involved 185 healthy females in Changsha, aged 45-81. Fasting serum testosterone was measured by radioimmunoassay. Hologic QDR 4500A fan beam X-ray bone densitometer was used to measure the BMD of anteroposterior lumber (AP, L(1-4)) and total hip,to measure the bone mineral content, BMD, body fat content and muscle tissue weight of head, trunk, ribs, pelvis, spine, upper limbs, lower limbs and the total body. Body weight, lean body mass and body fat percentage were calculated. SPSS11.0 software was used to conduct regression analysis.
Results: (1) Serum testosterone showed no correlation with lean body mass, body fat content, and body fat percentage. (2) Serum testosterone was positively related with the BMD of lumbar spine and hip, but showed no correlation with the BMD after adjustment of age and years since postmenopause. (3) Lean body mass showed significant positive correlation with the BMD of different sites. Total body fat content showed positive correlation with the BMD of total hip, while body fat percentage showed negative correlation with the BMD of the whole body.
Conclusion: Keeping lean body mass benefits postmenopausal women to maintain bone mineral content, and taking androgen should still be cautious.