Sleep Duration and Disturbances Were Associated With Testosterone Level, Muscle Mass, and Muscle Strength-A Cross-Sectional Study in 1274 Older Men

• Background: Testosterone level follows a circadian rhythm. However, whether sleep duration and disturbances can affect testosterone level, muscle mass, and strength remains unknown. Objective: To examine the relationship of sleep duration and disturbances to testosterone level, muscle mass, muscle strength, and walking speed. Participants and methods: We recruited 1274 community-dwelling men older than 65 years of age. Their early morning testosterone level was assayed by mass spectrometry. A sleep questionnaire was administered to enquire about their reported sleep duration, prolonged sleep latency (>0.5 hour), and subjective insomnia complaint. Muscle mass was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Testosterone level, muscle mass, handgrip strength, and walking speed were tested against sleep duration and disturbances. Results: Testosterone increased with increasing sleep duration up to 9.9 hours, after which it decreased, giving rise to an inverted U-shaped relationship (P for quadratic trend < .05). A similar inverted U-shaped relationship occurred between sleep duration and muscle mass and function. Earlier go-to-bed time, despite being associated with a higher testosterone level (P < .05), was associated with weaker grip strength (P < .05). Earlier wake-up time was associated with higher muscle mass (P < .05) but neither grip strength nor walking speed. Neither prolonged sleep latency nor insomnia was associated with testosterone levels. However, prolonged sleep latency was associated with lower muscle mass (P < .05), weaker grip strength (P < .05), and slower walking speed (P < .001). Insomnia, on the other hand was associated with weaker grip strength (P < .05) and slower walking speed (P < .001) but not muscle mass. Conclusions: Sleep duration and disturbances can affect testosterone level, muscle mass, and its function. Whether optimization of sleep can ameliorate age-associated decline in sex hormone and muscle performance warrants further studies. (C) 2015 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Geriatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Geriatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Testosterone

sleep

muscle

old age

ELDERLY-MEN

HONG-KONG

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE

SERUM TESTOSTERONE

BODY-COMPOSITION

MORTALITY

FRAILTY

CHINESE

COHORT

ADULTS

Geriatrics & Gerontology

LSTEIN MF

1975

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH

V12

P189

LEY DJ

1995

SLEEP

V18

P425

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)