A decrease in the hormone testosterone levels may be one of the factors responsible for the development of arthritis, according to a new study.
- Participants who had high testosterone levels had a lower risk of developing arthritis.
- This link between testosterone levels and arthritis does not mean that it is the cause.
- Ultimately, if studies validate this link, testosterone could be used to prevent arthritis by protecting against inflammation.
Arthritis is a joint disease different from osteoarthritis. It affects adults of all ages, and even children, according to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), and corresponds to inflammation of one or more joints due to a dysfunction of the immune system.
Testosterone levels linked to arthritis
There are several types of arthritis, with multiple causes: joint infection, bone deposits, autoimmune disease, etc. Currently, there is no curative treatment, but researchers fromWuhan Sports University, in China, discovered a link between levels of the hormone testosterone and arthritis. Their study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
During their research, the scientists analyzed data from more than 10,000 adults. Thus, they observed that those whose testosterone levels were high had a lower risk of developing arthritis, compared to those whose levels were lower.
Arthritis: other factors at play
This link between arthritis and testosterone was greater in women and people with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2. According to health insurancea BMI between 30.0 and 34.9 kg/m² is classified as moderate obesity.
However, the researchers emphasize that the link found between testosterone levels and arthritis does not mean, at this stage of the study, that one is the consequence of the other. Additionally, the correlation between testosterone and arthritis is not linear. In other words, as testosterone levels decrease, the risk of arthritis does not increase in the same way. This means that there are other factors at play.
In the future, scientists plan to continue their research to study the role of hormones – such as testosterone of course but also estrogen – in the development of arthritis. If the role of testosterone is verified, it could be used to prevent arthritis by protecting against inflammation. Hope because, according to Inserm, arthritis affects around one in 100 people in France.
