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Muscle strength and tibolone: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Article first published online: 22 DEC 2003
DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2002.01213.x
Issue
1471-0528/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=b4e1d96c46e18c61210d584b63c13ee375cf562b "BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology")
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Volume 109, Issue 1, pages 77–84, January 2002
Additional Information
How to Cite
Meeuwsen, I. B.A.E., Samson, M. M., Duursma, S. A. and Verhaar, H. J.J. (2002), Muscle strength and tibolone: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 109: 77–84. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2002.01213.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 22 DEC 2003
- Article first published online: 22 DEC 2003
- Accepted 18 September 2001
- Abstract
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Objective To investigate the effects of tibolone, a tissue-specific compound with a mixed (estrogenic, progestogenic and androgenic) hormonal profile, on skeletal muscle strength in a group of healthy postmenopausal women
Design Randomised, parallel group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-centre trial conducted between August 1997 and July 1999
Participants Eighty-five healthy women, between one and 15 years postmenopausal, (mean [SD] age, 54.2 [4.7] years) recruited from local paper advertisements. Participants were randomly assigned to 2.5mg tibolone or to identically appearing placebo pills daily for 12 months, taken orally in the morning
Methods Both maximal handgrip strength, representing upper body strength, and maximal quadriceps strength, representing lower body strength, were measured isometrically
Main outcome measures Treatment effect estimates (between group differences) in handgrip strength and isometric knee extension at last visit
Results Tibolone significantly (P= 0.04) increased handgrip strength compared with placebo (difference 0.99 kg, [95% CI 0.1–1.9]). No significant treatment effect (P= 0.61) was observed in isometric knee extension strength. Isometric strength adjusted for body mass index resulted in a trend favouring tibolone (P= 0.06). Individual trend analysis showed a significant difference in rate of change throughout the year (6.8% [95% CI 2.1–10.7]) favouring tibolone
Conclusions Administration of tibolone increased handgrip strength in postmenopausal women compared with placebo. A trend indicating a positive effect in isometric knee extension strength adjusted for body mass index was observed. Tibolone seems to mitigate the menopause-related decline in muscle strength