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Cited by 178Stress Responses and CortisolAdrenal Hormones and DisordersExercise and Physiological Responses

Toward quantifying the usage costs of human immunity: Altered metabolic rates and hormone levels during acute immune activation in men

Muehlenbein, Michael P., Hirschtick, Jana L., Bonner, Julia Z., Swartz, Ann M.·2010·American Journal of Human Biology
DOI 10.1002/ajhb.21045
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Abstract

There is a paucity of data on the energetic demands of human immune functions, despite the fact that both clinical medicine and evolutionary biology would benefit from further clarification of these costs. To better understand the energetic requirements of mounting a mild immune response, as well as some of the major hormonal changes underlying these metabolic changes, we examined changes in resting metabolic rate (RMR) and hormones during and after respiratory tract infection in young adult men. An epidemiologic passive detection design was used to recruit 25 nonfebrile subjects naturally infected with respiratory tract pathogens. Symptomology, percent body fat, RMR, salivary testosterone and cortisol, and other information were collected at a minimum of three time points during and after convalescence. Comparisons of the differences in RMR, testosterone, and cortisol between sampling days within individual cases were made using paired t‐tests. Participants experienced 8% higher RMR during illness, and a subset of these men experienced a mean increase greater than 14%. The participants also experienced 10% lower testosterone levels during illness, and a subset of these participants experienced a mean decrease of 30%, although cortisol levels did not change significantly. These results document elevated RMR following natural pathogen exposure in adult humans, demonstrating that even mild immune reactions can elicit significant increases in energy expenditure. Understanding the costs of immunity and the immunomodulatory actions of hormones are central to understanding the role of immunity in human life history evolution. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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189 of 189 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Numerous studies have consistently found age-dependent decreases in testosterone.

    “Numerous studies have consistently identified age-dependent decreases in T.”

    From Challenges in Testosterone Measurement, Data Interpretation, and Methodological Appraisal of Interventional Trials (2016) · cites this paper as [35]

  • A larger analysis of 3690 community-dwelling elderly males with mean age 77 found similar mean testosterone levels among those describing excellent or very good health compared with the overall cohort, suggesting subjective health may not be a significant factor for testosterone levels.

    “A larger analysis (n=3690) of community-dwelling, elderly males (mean age 77 years) which demonstrated similar mean T levels (406 vs 378 ng/dl [14.1 vs 13.1 nmol/L]) among those describing excellent or very good health compared to the overall cohort, suggesting that subjective assessment of overall health may not represent a significant factor for T levels.”

    From Challenges in Testosterone Measurement, Data Interpretation, and Methodological Appraisal of Interventional Trials (2016) · cites this paper as [35]

  • In a community-based sample of 3690 elderly men with mean age 77, calculated free testosterone levels were 24.2 pg/ml, while a separate cohort reporting excellent or very good health had 29.9 pg/ml.

    “In a community-based sample of 3,690 elderly men (mean age 77), calculated fT levels were 24.2 pg/ml (83.9 pmol/L), with a separate cohort identifying themselves as being in excellent or very good health reported at 29.9 pg/ml (103.7 pmol/L).”

    From Challenges in Testosterone Measurement, Data Interpretation, and Methodological Appraisal of Interventional Trials (2016) · cites this paper as [35]

  • A study of 3690 elderly community-dwelling men with mean age 77 found a mean total testosterone of 378 ng/dl, with upper and lower reference ranges of 693 and 145 ng/dl.

    “A second study evaluating 3690 elderly (mean age 77), community-dwelling men identified a mean TT of 378 ng/dl (13.1 nmol/L), with upper (97.5%) and lower (2.5%) reference ranges of 693 and 145 ng/dl (24 and 5 nmol/L), respectively.”

    From Challenges in Testosterone Measurement, Data Interpretation, and Methodological Appraisal of Interventional Trials (2016) · cites this paper as [35]

  • A subset of patients describing themselves as in excellent or very good health had similar mean, 97.5%, and 2.5% total testosterone levels compared with the entire cohort.

    “Of interest, a subset of patients describing themselves as in excellent or very good health had similar mean, 97.5%, and 2.5% TT levels compared to the entire cohort (mean-406, 97.5%–739, 2.5%–184 ng/dl [14.1, 25.6, and 6.4 nmol/L]).”

    From Challenges in Testosterone Measurement, Data Interpretation, and Methodological Appraisal of Interventional Trials (2016) · cites this paper as [35]

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Authors
Muehlenbein, M. P., Hirschtick, J. L., Bonner, J. Z., & Swartz, A. M.
Affiliations
  • Indiana University Bloomington (US)
  • University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (US)
Corresponding author
Muehlenbein, Michael P.
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Human Biology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2010-03-22
Volume
22
Issue
4
Pages
546-556
ISSN
  • 1042-0533 (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-6300
DOI
10.1002/ajhb.21045
OpenAlex
W2118187515
Cited by
178
References
187
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 12
FWCI
4.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • American Journal of Human Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords
resting metabolic rate, energy expenditure, respiratory infections, testosterone, cortisol, salivary hormones, immunomodulation, life history evolution, convalescence
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Energy Metabolism, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Immunity, Male, Respiratory Tract Infections, Rest, Saliva, Testosterone, Adiposity, Young Adult

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