title: Tibolone low dose (1.25 mg/d) therapy and postural balance in elderly women.
abstract: Most hip fractures occur in subjects without osteoporosis and are associated with a fall. Conventional menopausal hormone therapy (HT) improves postural balance, which might explain the rapid reduction in hip fracture risk. It is unclear whether tibolone improves postural balance, which might determine its effects on peripheral fracture risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the short-term effects of low-dose tibolone therapy on postural balance in elderly women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty healthy women (70 evaluable), aged 60 years or more, were recruited through advertising in the local media. They were randomly allocated to receive either tibolone (1.25 mg/d) or placebo for 6 months. Postural balance was assessed as sway velocity, using a force platform.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics, including serum estradiol values and postural balance, were similar in the two study groups. On average, the overall dosing compliance was very high, over 97% in both groups. After 6 months, sway velocity had decreased (improved) by 7.6% (-0.97 cm/s; P=0.16 vs. baseline) in the tibolone arm and by 2.5% (-0.30 cm/s; P=0.59 vs. baseline) in the placebo group. The difference 0.67 cm/s was not statistically significant (95% CI -2.44, 1.10; P=0.45). Adjustments for age, serum estradiol level and variable value at baseline, revealed similar results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term treatment with tibolone (1.25 mg/d), compared to placebo, did not significantly affect postural balance function in elderly women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's health, Section for Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Hospital, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. Tord.Naessen@kbh.uu.se
authors.forename: Tord
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naessen
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindmark
authors.forename: Hans Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Os
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017698:Postmenopause; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D009652:Norpregnenes; C027385:tibolone