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 .
The effect of hormone replacement therapy on appendicular lean tissue mass in early postmenopausal women
Objective The impact of hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) on skeletal muscle mass is still a controversial issue in women 's health . Some authors hypothesize anabolic effects , others catabolic . These hypotheses , however , await confirmation by longitudinal observations based on more direct measurements of muscle mass . The aim of the present preliminary study was to evaluate the effect of a 3-year HRT program on appendicular lean tissue mass ( LTMA ) in early postmenopausal women aged 45–54 years . Design This was a r and omized , double-blind and placebo-controlled trial . Women received HRT with 2 mg estradiol valerate combined either continuously with 1 mg cyproterone acetate ( days 1–28;n = 15 ) or sequentially with 75 & mgr;g levonorgestrel ( days 17–28;n = 15 ) , or placebo ( n = 18 ) . Serum estradiol was measured by radioimmunoassay . LTMA was measured by dual photon absorptiometry ( baseline ) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry ( years 2 and 3 ) . Results Baseline serum estradiol did not show significant correlation with the respective LTMA ( r = 0.018 , p = 0.88 , n = 75 ) . Cross-sectional analysis found no significant differences between the intervention groups at any time points . The longitudinal changes between years 2 and 3 showed a trend toward decreasing LTMA in those receiving HRT ( −0.08 ± 0.12 kg , n = 30 ) compared to those receiving placebo ( 0.12 ± 0.25 kg , n = 18 , p = 0.44 ) . Conclusions The present preliminary study did not find significant effects on LTMA caused by HRT . The trends toward decreasing LTMA in the HRT groups might suggest catabolic rather than anabolic effects . These trends , however , await confirmation by larger clinical trials
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 .