Muscle parameters in men and oxidative stress markers

Abstract Background The oxidative handicap hypothesis posits that testosterone-dependent traits, such as muscle mass and strength, may be costly to develop due to testosterone’s pro-oxidative properties, leading to increased oxidative stress. This hypothesis suggests that only individuals with super...

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Main Authors: Michał Pietruszewski, Judyta Nowak-Kornicka, Agnieszka Żelaźniewicz, Bogusław Pawłowski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Physiological Anthropology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00385-8
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author Michał Pietruszewski
Judyta Nowak-Kornicka
Agnieszka Żelaźniewicz
Bogusław Pawłowski
author_facet Michał Pietruszewski
Judyta Nowak-Kornicka
Agnieszka Żelaźniewicz
Bogusław Pawłowski
author_sort Michał Pietruszewski
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The oxidative handicap hypothesis posits that testosterone-dependent traits, such as muscle mass and strength, may be costly to develop due to testosterone’s pro-oxidative properties, leading to increased oxidative stress. This hypothesis suggests that only individuals with superior biological conditions can afford these costs. This study examines the oxidative handicap hypothesis, exploring the relationship between muscle mass or handgrip strength and oxidative stress markers in men. Methods Handgrip strength and muscle mass were measured in 179 men, with muscle mass assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and handgrip strength measured using a hydraulic dynamometer. Serum testosterone levels and antioxidant capacity were measured. 8-OH-dG, 8-epi-PGF2α, and protein carbonyls were measured to evaluate oxidative stress level. Pearson’s correlation and multivariate regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between handgrip strength, muscle mass, and oxidative stress markers, controlling for age, serum testosterone levels, and antioxidant capacity. Results No significant correlations were found between handgrip strength and oxidative stress markers, even when controlling for muscle mass, antioxidant capacity, testosterone levels, and age. Conclusions The study’s findings do not support the oxidative handicap hypothesis in the context of muscle parameters in men. The results suggest that testosterone-driven traits like handgrip strength or muscle mass may not necessarily incur oxidative stress costs in healthy young men, possibly due to effective compensatory antioxidant mechanisms. Factors like lifestyle, diet, and genetic predisposition, which were not controlled in this study, could also influence the observed outcomes and should be included in future research.
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spelling doaj-art-b9c9978dfa6a451f97bfb5ef674bd9912025-01-19T12:42:53ZengBMCJournal of Physiological Anthropology1880-68052025-01-014411810.1186/s40101-025-00385-8Muscle parameters in men and oxidative stress markersMichał Pietruszewski0Judyta Nowak-Kornicka1Agnieszka Żelaźniewicz2Bogusław Pawłowski3University of WrocławUniversity of WrocławUniversity of WrocławUniversity of WrocławAbstract Background The oxidative handicap hypothesis posits that testosterone-dependent traits, such as muscle mass and strength, may be costly to develop due to testosterone’s pro-oxidative properties, leading to increased oxidative stress. This hypothesis suggests that only individuals with superior biological conditions can afford these costs. This study examines the oxidative handicap hypothesis, exploring the relationship between muscle mass or handgrip strength and oxidative stress markers in men. Methods Handgrip strength and muscle mass were measured in 179 men, with muscle mass assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and handgrip strength measured using a hydraulic dynamometer. Serum testosterone levels and antioxidant capacity were measured. 8-OH-dG, 8-epi-PGF2α, and protein carbonyls were measured to evaluate oxidative stress level. Pearson’s correlation and multivariate regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between handgrip strength, muscle mass, and oxidative stress markers, controlling for age, serum testosterone levels, and antioxidant capacity. Results No significant correlations were found between handgrip strength and oxidative stress markers, even when controlling for muscle mass, antioxidant capacity, testosterone levels, and age. Conclusions The study’s findings do not support the oxidative handicap hypothesis in the context of muscle parameters in men. The results suggest that testosterone-driven traits like handgrip strength or muscle mass may not necessarily incur oxidative stress costs in healthy young men, possibly due to effective compensatory antioxidant mechanisms. Factors like lifestyle, diet, and genetic predisposition, which were not controlled in this study, could also influence the observed outcomes and should be included in future research.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00385-8Oxidative stressTestosteroneMuscle strengthHandgrip strength (HGS)Oxidative handicapHypothesis
spellingShingle Michał Pietruszewski
Judyta Nowak-Kornicka
Agnieszka Żelaźniewicz
Bogusław Pawłowski
Muscle parameters in men and oxidative stress markers
Journal of Physiological Anthropology
Oxidative stress
Testosterone
Muscle strength
Handgrip strength (HGS)
Oxidative handicap
Hypothesis
title Muscle parameters in men and oxidative stress markers
title_full Muscle parameters in men and oxidative stress markers
title_fullStr Muscle parameters in men and oxidative stress markers
title_full_unstemmed Muscle parameters in men and oxidative stress markers
title_short Muscle parameters in men and oxidative stress markers
title_sort muscle parameters in men and oxidative stress markers
topic Oxidative stress
Testosterone
Muscle strength
Handgrip strength (HGS)
Oxidative handicap
Hypothesis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00385-8
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