Sex differences in body composition affect total airway resistance during puberty

During puberty, changes in body composition due to sex hormones are associated with lung mechanics. However, little is known about the mediation effect of sex differences in body composition during puberty with total airway resistance.

We prospectively recruited 620 children (10-12 years old) from the general population and conducted a cross-sectional study. This study assessed pubertal status according to the five Tanner stages using a questionnaire, line drawings, and each subject's blood sex hormone profile. Both the impulse oscillation system for total lung mechanics and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance for body composition analyses were conducted. The effects of puberty on body composition and subsequent total lung resistance were evaluated using mediation analysis.

Among the 503 children enrolled, there were 261 males (51.9%) and 242 females (48.1%). In males, higher testosterone levels corresponded with reduced total lung resistance (β = -0.13, 95% CI = -0.21 to -0.05, p < 0.001), and the proportion of the mediating effect through the muscle-fat ratio was 19% (95% CI = 4 to 59, p = 0.02). In contrast, in females, pubertal status reduced total lung resistance (β = -0.27, 95% CI = -0.58 to -0.05, p = 0.04), however, the proportion of the mediating effect through the body mass index was -51% (95% CI = -244 to -4%, p = 0.04).

The muscle-fat ratio in adolescent males had a synergistic effect with testosterone on improving total airway resistance, whereas improvements in lung resistance by pubertal status were partially masked by body mass index in adolescent females. In conclusion, body composition changes during puberty between males and females have differing effects on total airway resistance.