A new research project aims to clarify how natural and synthetic sex hormones influence the regulation of muscle mass. As part of the project, 30 women who experienced their last menstrual period between 1 and 10 years ago will be recruited to participate.

The participants will undergo two weeks of immobilization of one leg, followed by eight weeks of targeted rehabilitation. During the study, the women will be randomly assigned to receive either estrogen patches or a placebo to measure the specific effects of the hormone on muscle tissue.

“When women reach menopause, their estrogen levels decline, which is associated with reduced muscle function, an increased risk of falls, and decreased quality of life. We therefore expect that estrogen supplementation will reduce muscle loss during immobilization and promote muscle regeneration during training,” says Associate Professor Mette Hansen about the project’s ambitions.

The results of the project could potentially lead to new treatments that improve muscle health and quality of life for postmenopausal women.

The HER-MUSCLE research team also includes Associate Professor Jean Farup from the Department of Biomedicine, Clinical Professor Claus Gravholt from the Department of Clinical Medicine, and Associate Professor Ryan Godsk Larsen from the Department of Medicine and Health Technology at Aalborg University.

Contact

Associate Professor Mette Hansen
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health
Phone: +45 51 66 65 51
Email: mhan@ph.au.dk