# CAUSES OF LEAN BODY MASS ATROPHY IN AGING MEN

> **NIH NIH R01** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 1993 · $247,726

## Abstract

The aim is to understand the causes of the progressive loss of lean body
mass (LBM) which occurs in aging men, with simultaneous increase in
adipose mass (AM), centralization of adipose tissue topography, atrophy
of muscle mass, loss of muscle strength, decrease of bone mass, and
declines in aerobic work capacity and resting metabolic rate.  These
eight underlined terms are the "dependent" or "outcome" variables in the
proposed study.  Six potential predictors or risk factors will be
investigated: low plasma levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, free testosterone and
dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), high daily excretion of urinary
free cortisol, and curtailed physical activity.  This latter group of six
underlined variables are the "independent" or "predictor" variables.  A
population of 250 independent overtly healthy men will be monitored for
five years by measuring the fourteen variables stated above at six month
intervals.  The authors will determine by multivariate statistical
analyses the role of each independent variable in predicting the age-
related decline in each of the dependent variables.  Interactions between
the dependent variables as predictors of the outcome variables will be
identified.  Preliminary data of the applicants have already shown a
relation of low plasma IGF-I to the loss of LBM, and a relation of low
plasma DHEAS to the gain in AM in elderly men.  In the proposed study the
authors will extend their preliminary findings by including additional
hormones capable of influencing body composition, by employing both
cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, and by enlarging the study
population.  The applicants will learn how much of the marked inter-
individual variability in the body composition and related physiologic
functions of elderly men can be explained by differences in their
endocrine status and in their level of physical activity.

The clinical significance of the project is as follows.  Accelerated loss
of LBM with the associated compositional and physiologic changes
contribute to frailty and dependency in old age.  To the extent that any
of the independent variables is found to be a statistically significant
predictor of accelerated body composition deterioration in old age, new
interventions to prevent or reverse this deterioration will thereby be
made available.  Thus, it is possible that maintaining a youthful profile
of the significant predictor variables in aging men may tend to preserve
youthful body composition and related physiologic functions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3123884
- **Project number:** 1R01AG012210-01
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **SAM.gov UEI:** E8VWJXMMUQ67
- **Principal Investigator:** DANIEL RUDMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $247,726
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1993-09-20 → 1999-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3123884

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3123884, CAUSES OF LEAN BODY MASS ATROPHY IN AGING MEN (1R01AG012210-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3123884. Licensed CC0.

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