Differential effects of strength training and testosterone treatment on soluble CD36 in aging men: Possible relation to changes in body composition.
OBJECTIVE
We measured soluble CD36 (sCD36) and body composition to determine the effects of testosterone treatment (TT) and/or strength training (ST) on cardiovascular risk in men with low normal testosterone levels.


METHODS
Double-blinded, placebo-controlled study in 54 men aged 60-78 years with bioavailable testosterone < 7.3 nmol/L and waist > 94 cm randomized to TT (gel, 50-100 mg/day, n = 20), placebo (n = 18) or ST (n = 16) for 6 months. Moreover, the ST group was randomized to TT (ST + TT, n = 7) or placebo (ST + placebo, n = 9) after 3 months.


RESULTS
sCD36, total and regional fat mass were established by Dual X-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging. Data are presented as median (quartiles). Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were performed on delta values at 0, 3 and 6 months.


RESULTS
ST + placebo decreased sCD36 levels by 21% [from 0.80 (0.68-1.22) to 0.63 (0.51-0.73) rel. units] vs. TT and vs. placebo (p < 0.05). ST + placebo did not change bioavailable testosterone and lean body mass. Fat mass measures significantly improved during ST + placebo, ST + TT, and TT vs. placebo. During ST + placebo, delta sCD36 was associated with delta total fat mass (r = 0.81) and delta central fat mass (r = 0.84).


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to testosterone treatment, six months of strength training reduced sCD36 levels suggesting decreased cardiovascular risk, possibly due to a reduction in central fat mass.
a Department of Endocrinology , Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark.
Dorte
D
Glintborg
a Department of Endocrinology , Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark.
Louise L
LL
Christensen
b Institute of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark.
Thue
T
Kvorning
c Department of Informatics and Mathematical Modelling , Technical University of Denmark , Kgs. Lyngby , Denmark.
Rasmus
R
Larsen
a Department of Endocrinology , Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark.
Kurt
K
Højlund
a Department of Endocrinology , Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark.
Kim
K
Brixen
d Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology , Statens Serum Institut , Copenhagen S , Denmark.
David M
DM
Hougaard
e Department of Clinical Biochemistry , Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg , Denmark.|f Clinical Institute, Aalborg University , Aalborg , Denmark.
Aase
A
Handberg
a Department of Endocrinology , Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark.
Marianne
M
Andersen
D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D055070:Resistance Training; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018955:CD36 Antigens; D013739:Testosterone
DXA-scan; Relative hypogonadism; abdominal fat; biochemical marker; body fat distribution; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)