Effects of ultra-low-dose estrogen therapy on muscle and physical function in older women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of ultra-low-dose hormone therapy on muscle mass and physical function in community-dwelling women.


METHODS
Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.


METHODS
Clinical research center in Connecticut.


METHODS
Healthy, community-dwelling women aged 65 and older (n=167).


METHODS
Eligible women were randomly assigned to treatment with 0.25 mg 17-beta estradiol or placebo for 36 months. All women (estradiol or placebo) with an intact uterus received micronized progesterone 100 mg/d for 2 weeks every 6 months. All participants received 1,300 mg elemental calcium with 1,000 IU vitamin D per day.


METHODS
Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), lean body mass (LBM), and percentage body fat were measured using dual x-ray absorptiometry. Sarcopenia was defined as skeletal muscle mass (ASM/height2) 2 standard deviations or less than young, healthy reference population mean. Physical activity (Physical Activity Scale in the Elderly (PASE)) and performance were measured. Serum estrone, estradiol, and sex hormone-binding globulin were measured.


RESULTS
The prevalence of sarcopenia at baseline was 13%. There were no baseline differences between groups except for PASE score and chair rise time, in which the estrogen group had better performance. No changes in ASM, LBM, percentage of body fat, or physical performance were found after 3 years of estrogen therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Sarcopenia was present in 13% of this group of community-dwelling, postmenopausal older women. Ultra-low-dose estrogen therapy neither improves nor harms ASM. Similarly, no changes in body fat or physical performance were detected.
Kenny
Anne M
AM
Center on Aging, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA. kenny@nso1.uchc.edu
Kleppinger
Alison
A
Wang
Yahzen
Y
Prestwood
Karen M
KM
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012016:Reference Values
D004970:Estrone; D004958:Estradiol