Abstract
BackgroundMuscle strength declines on average by one percent annually from midlife on. In postmenopausal women this decrement coincides with a rapid decline in estrogen production. The genetics underlying the effects of estrogen on skeletal muscle remains unclear. In the present study, we examined whether polymorphisms within COMT and ESR1 are associated with muscle properties and assessed their interaction and their combined effects with physical activity.Methodology/Principal FindingsA cross-sectional data analysis was conducted with 434 63-76-year-old women from the population-based Finnish Twin Study on Aging. Body anthropometry, muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA), isometric hand grip and knee extension strengths, and leg extension power were measured. COMT Val158Met and ESR1 PvuII genotypes were determined by the RFLP method. mCSA differed by COMT genotypes (p = 0.014) being significantly larger in LL than HL individuals in unadjusted (p = 0.001) and age- and height-adjusted model (p = 0.004). When physical activity and age were entered into GEE model, COMT genotype had a significant main effect (p = 0.038) on mCSA. Furthermore, sedentary individuals with the HH genotype had lower muscle mass, strength and power, but they also appeared to benefit the most from physical activity. No association of ESR1 PvuII polymorphism with any of the muscle outcomes was observed.Conclusions/SignificanceThe present study suggests that the COMT polymorphism, affecting the activity of the enzyme, is associated with muscle mass. Furthermore, sedentary individuals with potential high enzyme activity were the weakest group, but they may potentially benefit the most from physical activity. This observation elucidates the importance of both environmental and genetic factors in muscle properties.
Highlights
One of the most important functions of skeletal muscle is voluntary movement
Conclusions/Significance: The present study suggests that the COMT polymorphism, affecting the activity of the enzyme, is associated with muscle mass
In further analyses we examined whether physical activity level modulates the effects of COMTVal158Met (Table 4 and Figure 1) or ESR1PvuII (Table 5) polymorphism on muscle properties
Summary
One of the most important functions of skeletal muscle is voluntary movement. Muscle serves as an amino acid reservoir and a site for various metabolic activities participating e.g. to the glucose metabolism of the whole body [1,2]. Muscle strength declines, approximately one percent annually [4]. This decline may eventually predispose people to mobility limitation, falls and bone fractures [5,6,7]. Muscle strength declines on average by one percent annually from midlife on. In postmenopausal women this decrement coincides with a rapid decline in estrogen production. The genetics underlying the effects of estrogen on skeletal muscle remains unclear. We examined whether polymorphisms within COMT and ESR1 are associated with muscle properties and assessed their interaction and their combined effects with physical activity
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