The impact of the CAG repeat polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene on muscle and adipose tissues in 20-29-year-old Danish men: Odense Androgen Study.
BACKGROUND
The number of CAG repeats (CAG(n)) within the CAG repeat polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene correlates inversely with the transactivation of the receptor.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of CAG(n) on muscle, fat distribution, and circulating androgen levels. Design, settings and participants Population-based, cross-sectional study of 783 Danish men aged 20-29 years.


METHODS
Genotyping was performed in 767 men. Areas of thigh and lower trunk muscle (muscle(thigh) and muscle(lower trunk)), subcutaneous adipose tissues (SAT(thigh) and SAT(lower trunk)), and deep adipose tissues (i.m. and visceral) were measured in 393 men by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Lean body mass (LBM) and fat mass (FM) were measured in all men by whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The absolute areas acquired by MRI were the main outcomes. The absolute DEXA measurements and relative assessments of both modalities were considered as the secondary outcomes. Results CAG(n) (range: 10-32) correlated inversely with absolute muscle(thigh) (r=-0.108), absolute muscle(lower trunk) (r=-0.132), relative muscle(thigh) (r=-0.128), relative muscle(lower trunk) (r=-0.126), relative LBM(lower extremity) (r=-0.108), and relative LBM(total) (r=-0.082), and positively with relative SAT(thigh) (r=0.137), relative SAT(lower trunk) (r=0.188), relative FM(lower extremity) (r=0.107), and relative FM(total) (r=0.082). These relationships remained significant, controlling for physical activity, smoking, chronic disease, and age. CAG(n) did not correlate with any circulating androgen.


CONCLUSIONS
The CAG repeat polymorphism affects body composition in young men: absolute muscle(thigh) and absolute muscle(lower trunk) increase as CAG(n) decreases. Expressed relatively, muscle areas and LBM increase, while SAT and FM decrease as CAG(n) decreases. The polymorphism does not affect deep adipose tissues or circulating androgen levels in young men.
Department of Endocrinology Biochemistry, Odense University Hospital, Sdr Boulevard, 5000 Odense C, Denmark. torben@dsa-net.dk
Torben Leo
TL
Nielsen
Claus
C
Hagen
Kristian
K
Wraae
Lise
L
Bathum
Rasmus
R
Larsen
Kim
K
Brixen
Marianne
M
Andersen
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D003718:Denmark; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000502:physiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000502:physiology*; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats; D055815:Young Adult
C410798:AR protein, human; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D004247:DNA