Body composition and risk for sarcopenia in transgender women

Body composition and strength of cisgender (cis) individuals are well established. However, those for transgender women (trans women) undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) are not clear. We conducted this study to detect possible variations in body composition and strength related to sarcopenia. This is a cross-sectional comparative study of 37 trans women, 34 cis men and 34 cis women. Body composition were measured in all individuals by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA); prehensile strength by dynamometry was studied in trans women. In this study, trans women had higher BMI values than cis individuals (p<0.01). Fat mass (FM) was 41.27% higher for trans women compared with cis men. Muscle mass (MM) was lower in trans women than cis men (-9.73%), and higher than cis women (24.39%). Bone mass (BM) was lower in trans women than cis men and higher than cis women (p<0.01). Trans women prehensile strengths were 25.26kg for right hand and 24.8kg for left. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was 23.63kg and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) was 8.14kg. Trans women undergoing GAHT show a tendency to adapt body compartments to those of cis women with increased of FM and reduced of MM. Prehensile strength in trans women was close to cut-off points for risk of sarcopenia. Nutrition, physical activity, strength and body composition are important to avoid the possible risk of sarcopenia. More studies along these lines are necessary, specially in elderly people.