Maturitas
Volume 58, Issue 1 , Pages 7-18, 20 September 2007

Postmenopausal HRT and tibolone in relation to muscle strength and body composition

  • D.E. Jacobsen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Room B05.256, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands Tel.: +31 30 2508280.
    • ,
  • M.M. Samson

      Affiliations

    • Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • S. Kezic

      Affiliations

    • Academical Medical Centre, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • H.J.J. Verhaar

      Affiliations

    • Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands

Received 16 January 2007; received in revised form 24 April 2007; accepted 28 April 2007. published online 31 May 2007.

Abstract 

Objectives

Sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass with age, has a great impact on physical function, and especially in postmenopausal women, who experience a greater decline in muscle strength than do men of similar age. Conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may diminish this loss of muscle strength and may even increase muscle strength. However, HRT is not currently promoted for this indication because of its negative side effects, which is why tibolone, a synthetic steroid with oestrogenic, progestogenic, and androgenic activity, may be an alternative option. The aim of this article was to review data on the effect of HRT and tibolone on muscle strength and body composition in postmenopausal women.

Methods

Medline, Pubmed, Embase, and Sumsearch were searched for articles on the effect of HRT and tibolone on muscle strength and body composition, using the Mesh terms hormone replacement therapy and clinical trial combined with muscle strength or body composition. Tibolone was added as search term with clinical trial and muscle strength or body composition.

Results

Three of five randomized controlled trials reported a significant positive effect of HRT on muscle strength but not on body composition. Tibolone significantly increased handgrip strength and isometric knee extension strength in one randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind trial and increased mean knee extensor strength in one cross-sectional study. Tibolone also increased the lean body mass and decreased the accumulation of body fat.

Conclusions

HRT and tibolone increase muscle strength. Unlike HRT, tibolone also increases lean body mass and significantly reduces the total body fat content. Further research is recommended to determine whether tibolone is a safe treatment for sarcopenia.

Keywords: HRT, Tibolone, Muscle strength, Body composition

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PII: S0378-5122(07)00169-7

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2007.04.012

Maturitas
Volume 58, Issue 1 , Pages 7-18, 20 September 2007

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