Human studies of mitochondrial biology demonstrate an overall lack of binary sex differences : A multivariate meta-analysis
(2022) In FASEB Journal 36(2).- Abstract
Mitochondria are maternally inherited organelles that play critical tissue-specific roles, including hormone synthesis and energy production, that influence human development, health, and aging. However, whether mitochondria from women and men exhibit consistent biological differences remains unclear, representing a major gap in knowledge. This meta-analysis systematically examined four domains and six subdomains of mitochondrial biology (total 39 measures), including mitochondrial content, respiratory capacity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, morphometry, and mitochondrial DNA copy number. Standardized effect sizes (Hedge's g) of sex differences were computed for each measure using data in 2258 participants (51.5% women) from... (More)
Mitochondria are maternally inherited organelles that play critical tissue-specific roles, including hormone synthesis and energy production, that influence human development, health, and aging. However, whether mitochondria from women and men exhibit consistent biological differences remains unclear, representing a major gap in knowledge. This meta-analysis systematically examined four domains and six subdomains of mitochondrial biology (total 39 measures), including mitochondrial content, respiratory capacity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, morphometry, and mitochondrial DNA copy number. Standardized effect sizes (Hedge's g) of sex differences were computed for each measure using data in 2258 participants (51.5% women) from 50 studies. Only two measures demonstrated aggregate binary sex differences: higher mitochondrial content in women's WAT and isolated leukocyte subpopulations (g = 0.20, χ2 p =.01), and higher ROS production in men's skeletal muscle (g = 0.49, χ2 p <.0001). Sex differences showed weak to no correlation with age or BMI. Studies with small sample sizes tended to overestimate effect sizes (r = −.17, p <.001), and sex differences varied by tissue examined. Our findings point to a wide variability of findings in the literature concerning possible binary sex differences in mitochondrial biology. Studies specifically designed to capture sex- and gender-related differences in mitochondrial biology are needed, including detailed considerations of physical activity and sex hormones.
(Less)
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-02
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- FASEB Journal
- volume
- 36
- issue
- 2
- article number
- e22146
- publisher
- Wiley
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:35073429
- scopus:85123747111
- ISSN
- 0892-6638
- DOI
- 10.1096/fj.202101628R
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 78d85225-09c1-4bb6-9a15-ace2b890091f
- date added to LUP
- 2022-03-25 11:39:26
- date last changed
- 2024-06-28 15:45:03
@article{78d85225-09c1-4bb6-9a15-ace2b890091f, abstract = {{<p>Mitochondria are maternally inherited organelles that play critical tissue-specific roles, including hormone synthesis and energy production, that influence human development, health, and aging. However, whether mitochondria from women and men exhibit consistent biological differences remains unclear, representing a major gap in knowledge. This meta-analysis systematically examined four domains and six subdomains of mitochondrial biology (total 39 measures), including mitochondrial content, respiratory capacity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, morphometry, and mitochondrial DNA copy number. Standardized effect sizes (Hedge's g) of sex differences were computed for each measure using data in 2258 participants (51.5% women) from 50 studies. Only two measures demonstrated aggregate binary sex differences: higher mitochondrial content in women's WAT and isolated leukocyte subpopulations (g = 0.20, χ<sup>2</sup> p =.01), and higher ROS production in men's skeletal muscle (g = 0.49, χ<sup>2</sup> p <.0001). Sex differences showed weak to no correlation with age or BMI. Studies with small sample sizes tended to overestimate effect sizes (r = −.17, p <.001), and sex differences varied by tissue examined. Our findings point to a wide variability of findings in the literature concerning possible binary sex differences in mitochondrial biology. Studies specifically designed to capture sex- and gender-related differences in mitochondrial biology are needed, including detailed considerations of physical activity and sex hormones.</p>}}, author = {{Junker, Alex and Wang, Jennifer and Gouspillou, Gilles and Ehinger, Johannes K. and Elmér, Eskil and Sjövall, Fredrik and Fisher-Wellman, Kelsey H. and Neufer, P. Darrell and Molina, Anthony J.A. and Ferrucci, Luigi and Picard, Martin}}, issn = {{0892-6638}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{2}}, publisher = {{Wiley}}, series = {{FASEB Journal}}, title = {{Human studies of mitochondrial biology demonstrate an overall lack of binary sex differences : A multivariate meta-analysis}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1096/fj.202101628R}}, doi = {{10.1096/fj.202101628R}}, volume = {{36}}, year = {{2022}}, }