Relationship between handgrip strength and endogenous hormones in postmenopausal women

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the endogenous hormonal factors related to dominant handgrip strength (HGS) in postmenopausal women.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed on 402 postmenopausal women aged 47 to 83 years. The following variables were recorded: age, age at menopause, smoking status, adiposity, HGS, and physical activity. Hormonal parameters (follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, testosterone, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, increment 4 androstenedione, insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1], vitamin D, and parathormone levels) were measured and results reported as odds ratios (ORs), beta coefficients and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). A directed acyclic graph was used to identify potential confounding variables and was adjusted in the regression model to assess associations between endogenous hormones and HGS.ResultsThe mean dominant HGS was 22.8 +/- 3.7 kg, and 25.6% of women had dynapenia. There were significant differences in plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-1.00), cortisol (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-1.00) between women with normal HGS and those who presented with dynapenia. After adjusting for confounding variables, no significant association was found between endogenous hormones and HGS.ConclusionsOur results showed that studied ovarian steroids, adrenal hormones, IGF-1, parathormone, and vitamin D were not associated with HGS.