Tibolone low dose (1.25 mg/d) therapy and postural balance in elderly women.
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.
Naessen
Tord
T
Department of Women's and Children's health, Section for Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Hospital, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. Tord.Naessen@kbh.uu.se
Lindmark
Birgitta
B
Larsen
Hans Christian
HC
van Os
Steve
S
Larsson
Marita
M
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*
D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D009652:Norpregnenes; C027385:tibolone