Conclusions and Relevance This systematic review and meta- analysis did not show a significant beneficial or detrimental association of HT with muscle mass .
Importance Hormone therapy ( HT ) has been suggested for protection against age-related muscle weakness in women .
However , the potential for HT-associated health risks necessitates a better underst and ing of the direction and magnitude of the association between HT and health outcomes , such as lean body mass ( LBM ) .
Objective To determine whether HT was associated with reduced LBM loss compared with not receiving HT  among postmenopausal women aged 50 years and older .
Body composition during treatment with conjugated estrogens with and without medroxyprogesterone acetate: analysis of the women's Health, Osteoporosis, Progestin, Estrogen (HOPE) trial.
OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine the effects of several doses of conjugated estrogens ( CE ) and CE plus medroxyprogesterone acetate ( MPA ) on body composition ( BC ) . STUDY DESIGN This was a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled sub study of the Women 's Health , Osteoporosis , Progestin , Estrogen ( HOPE ) trial . Healthy women ( n = 822 , 1 - 4 years after menopause ) were r and omly assigned to receive the following treatments daily for 2 years : CE , 0.625 mg ; CE , 0.625 mg , and MPA , 2.5 mg ; CE , 0.45 mg ; CE , 0.45 mg , and MPA , 2.5 mg ; CE , 0.45 mg , and MPA , 1.5 mg ; CE , 0.3 mg ; CE , 0.3 mg , and MPA , 1.5 mg ; or placebo .  Body weight ( BW ) was assessed every 3 - 4 cycles and fat body mass ( FBM ) , lean body mass ( LBM ) , and percent body fat ( PBF ) at cycles 6 , 13 , 19 , and 26 . RESULTS In the placebo group , BW , FBM , and PBF increased at each visit during the study . Changes in these parameters were smaller in the active groups . These effects were independent of CE dose and the presence of MPA . Changes in LBM were small and comparable across groups . CONCLUSION Treatment with CE or CE and MPA for up to 2 years does not affect BC
Conclusions and Relevance This systematic review and meta- analysis did not show a significant beneficial or detrimental association of HT with muscle mass .
Importance Hormone therapy ( HT ) has been suggested for protection against age-related muscle weakness in women .
However , the potential for HT-associated health risks necessitates a better underst and ing of the direction and magnitude of the association between HT and health outcomes , such as lean body mass ( LBM ) .
Objective To determine whether HT was associated with reduced LBM loss compared with not receiving HT  among postmenopausal women aged 50 years and older .