HRT provides no additional beneficial effect on sarcopenia in physically active postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional, observational study

Objectives: Physical activity can prevent or retard the loss of muscle mass associated with aging. On the other hand, it has been suggested that HRT may also help prevent sarcopenia in postmenopausal women. We thus examined if HRT provides additional beneficial effect in physically active postmenopausal women. Methods: Forty postmenopausal women aged between 55 and 65 years old (normal weight, healthy and no medication) were recruited. Seventeen women were already taking HRT for at least one year whereas 23 were never submitted to HRT. Body composition was measured by DXA and physical activity metabolism was obtained by the use of accelerometry. Subjects were divided in tertile groups based on their daily physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE). Results: Physical activity groups were similar for age, HRT users distribution, BMI, trunk fat-free mass (FFM), and all fat mass (FM) components. The group of women who were the most physically active significantly displayed greater total FFM, appendicular FFM, and muscle mass index (MMI) compared to the group of less active women (P < 0.05) whereas HRT added no additional effect on any FFM components. Conclusions: Our results suggest that in active postmenopausal women, HRT does not provide any additional beneficial effect on body composition. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.