@ARTICLE\{IMM2010-05903,
    author       = "T. L. Nielsen and C. Hagen and K. Wraae and L. Bathum and R. Larsen and K. Brixen and M. Andersen",
    title        = "The impact of the {CAG} repeat polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene on muscle and adipose tissues in 20–29-year-old Danish men: Odense Androgen Study",
    year         = "2010",
    pages        = "795-804",
    journal      = "European Journal of Endocrinology",
    volume       = "162",
    editor       = "",
    number       = "4",
    publisher    = "",
    url          = "http://www2.compute.dtu.dk/pubdb/pubs/5903-full.html",
    abstract     = "Background: The number of {CAG} repeats (CAGn) within the {CAG} repeat polymorphism of the androgen
receptor gene correlates inversely with the transactivation of the receptor.
Objective: To examine the impact of CAGn on muscle, fat distribution, and circulating androgen levels.
Design, settings and participants: Population-based, cross-sectional study of 783 Danish men aged
20–29 years.
Methods: Genotyping was performed in 767 men. Areas of thigh and lower trunk muscle (musclethigh
and musclelower trunk), subcutaneous adipose tissues (SATthigh and SATlower trunk), and deep adipose
tissues (i.m. and visceral) were measured in 393 men by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Lean
body mass (LBM) and fat mass (FM) were measured in all men by whole body dual-energy {X-}ray
absorptiometry (DEXA). The absolute areas acquired by {MRI} were the main outcomes. The absolute
{DEXA} measurements and relative assessments of both modalities were considered as the secondary
outcomes.
Results: CAGn (range: 10–32) correlated inversely with absolute musclethigh (rZK0.108),
absolute musclelower trunk (rZK0.132), relative musclethigh (rZK0.128), relative musclelower trunk
(rZK0.126), relative LBMlower extremity (rZK0.108), and relative LBMtotal (rZK0.082),
and positively with relative SATthigh (rZ0.137), relative SATlower trunk (rZ0.188), relative
FMlower extremity (rZ0.107), and relative FMtotal (rZ0.082). These relationships remained
significant, controlling for physical activity, smoking, chronic disease, and age. CAGn did not correlate
with any circulating androgen.
Conclusions: The {CAG} repeat polymorphism affects body composition in young men: absolute
musclethigh and absolute musclelower trunk increase as CAGn decreases. Expressed relatively, muscle
areas and {LBM} increase, while {SAT} and {FM} decrease as CAGn decreases. The polymorphism does not
affect deep adipose tissues or circulating androgen levels in young men."
}