Muscle weakness in women occurs at an earlier age than in men, but strength is preserved by hormone replacement therapy

Abstract

1. The time-course of the age-related decline in specific muscle force (maximum voluntary force per cross-sectional area) in men and women was determined by measuring the maximum voluntary force and cross-sectional area of the adductor pollicis muscle in 273 subjects aged 17-90 years (176 men, 30 premenopausal women and 67 peri- or post-menopausal women who were not receiving hormone replacement therapy). 2. To determine whether the loss of specific muscle force is hormone-dependent in women, we studied a further 25 women, aged 42-72 years, who were receiving hormone replacement therapy. 3. There was no significant difference in specific force between young men and pre-menopausal women. Around the time of the menopause there was a dramatic decline in specific force in women which was prevented by the use of hormone replacement therapy. In men the weakness started later (around the age of 60 years) and the decline in specific force was more gradual, reaching the level seen in post-menopausal women after the age of 75 years. 4. The protective effect of hormone replacement therapy on muscle strength is likely to be an important contributory factor to its proven action in preventing osteoporotic fractures. The dramatic peri-menopausal decline in muscle strength is a likely explanation for the known increases in falls and Colles' fractures around the time of the menopause.

Relationship between the occiput-wall distance and physical performance in the elderly: a cross sectional study

“…Greater muscle mass, testosterone and GH levels and the lesser propensity to dysregulation of the hypothalamicadrenal axis and cortisol secretion may protect males from physical decline (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). A distinctive age-related change in the immune system probably makes men more vulnerable to infections and less prone to chronic conditions which are ultimately responsible for muscle loss (20,21).…”

Circulating miR-21, miR-146a and Fas ligand respond to postmenopausal estrogen-based hormone replacement therapy – A study with monozygotic twin pairs

“…ERs are also found in the skeletal muscle cells, making skeletal muscle tissue responsive to estrogens (Lemoine, et al 2003, Wiik, et al 2005). There are indications that dramatically decreasing level of circulating 17β-estradiol (E 2 ) at the time of menopause contributes to age-associated muscle weakness (Phillips, et al 1993, Sipila, et al 2001. Our previous studies have shown that the use of estrogen-or estrogen and progesterone -based hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with better muscle quality properties, such as a positive muscle-fat ratio within the muscle compartment, as well as improved muscle performance characteristics like muscle power and mobility (Ronkainen, et al 2009, Finni, et al 2011.…”

Raloxifene and body composition and muscle strength in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

“…Studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prevents the shift in body fat distribution to a more central location (5)(6)(7) and diminishes the loss of muscle strength (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Unfortunately, HRT use is accompanied by adverse side effects, such as an increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease (16), and for this reason its long-term use is not advocated.…”