Significance of Estrogen Status for Muscle Function, Physical Fitness, and Physiological Health Parameters - a Comparison of Age-matched Groups of Women Before and After Menopause. (HER-MUSCLEX)

June 9, 2026 updated by: Mette Hansen

Effects of Estrogen on Muscle Gain During 12-weeks of Exercise in Post-menopausal Women

As females age and transition through menopause, the decline in oestrogen level profoundly affects skeletal muscle mass and function. HER-MUSCLE aims to unravel the differences in pre and post menopausal women, in regards to muscle size, strength and function.

Focusing on postmenopausal females, an increasingly at-risk demographic, HER-MUSCLE addresses a critical gap in understanding how oestrogen influences muscle mass and function.

The project involves:

  1. Molecular Analysis: Advanced techniques will study the muscle microenvironment, focusing on muscle stem cells (MuSCs), fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), and other cells critical for muscle regeneration and maintenance.
  2. Mitochondrial Function assessed in vivo via magnetic resonance spectroscopy: The impact of oestrogen on mitochondrial health will be examined, exploring how it preserves mitochondrial function and ability to recovery and resist fatigue in response to muscle contractions.

Our preliminary data indicate that oestrogen can promote muscle protein synthesis. HER-MUSCLE aims to pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies to manage sarcopenia in postmenopausal women, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and enhanced well-being for this growing population segment.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

As females age and transition through menopause, the decline in oestrogen level profoundly affects skeletal muscle mass and function. HER-MUSCLE aims to unravel the differences in pre and post menopausal women, in regards to muscle size, strength and function.

Focusing on postmenopausal females, an increasingly at-risk demographic, HER-MUSCLE addresses a critical gap in understanding how oestrogen influences muscle mass and function.

The project involves:

  1. Molecular Analysis: Advanced techniques will study the muscle microenvironment, focusing on muscle stem cells (MuSCs), fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), and other cells critical for muscle regeneration and maintenance.
  2. Mitochondrial Function assessed in vivo via magnetic resonance spectroscopy: The impact of oestrogen on mitochondrial health will be examined, exploring how it preserves mitochondrial function and ability to recovery and resist fatigue in response to muscle contractions.

Our preliminary data indicate that oestrogen can promote muscle protein synthesis. HER-MUSCLE aims to pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies to manage sarcopenia in postmenopausal women, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and enhanced well-being for this growing population segment.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
30

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Mette Hansen, PhD
  • Phone Number: +4551666551
  • Email: mhan@ph.au.dk

Study Locations

  • Denmark
      • Aarhus, Denmark, 8000
        • Recruiting
        • Aarhus University
        • Contact:
          • Mette Hansen, PhD
          • Phone Number: +4551666551
          • Email: mhan@ph.au.dk
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Mette Hansen, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants will primarily be recruited from a radius of 50km from Aarhus.

Participants recruited will be age matched to participants in the main trial.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Regular menstrual bleeding (21-35 days cycle).
  • At least 9 menstrual cycles the last year
  • Age >47 years old
  • BMI 20-30

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Only premenopausal women: Follicular stimulating hormone > 30 mmol/L
  • Systematic strength training during the last year (> 1 strength training session per week)
  • Systematic high intensity cardiovascular training during the last year (<2 times per week)
  • Injuries to the legs which may prevent participation in the physical training program
  • Magnetizable metals or electrical devices implanted in the body, such as a pacemaker
  • Use of medication that can influence the effect of immobilization and/or training
  • Muscular or joint disorders which may affect the results
  • Metabolic diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases)
  • Previous or present liver or cancer disease
  • Current or previous thrombosis
  • Porphyria
  • Epilepsia
  • Systemic autoimmune disease
  • Edema
  • Smoking or use of other nicotine containing products
  • Claustrophobia
  • Addictive behavior, defined as abuse of cannabis, opioids, or other intoxicating substances.
  • Lack of ability to cooperate
  • Blood parameters out of normal range at the health check
  • Blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Post menopausal women
Pre menopausal women

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Muscle mass
Time Frame: 1 week
Magnetic resonance imaging
1 week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mitochondria Function in vivo measured as phosphocreatine recovery rate
Time Frame: 1 weeks
The dominant foot will be attached to a pedal mounted on the patient bed and a dedicated 31P surface coil will be secured over the tibialis anterior muscle. The pedal is designed to allow dynamic contractions of the tibialis anterior muscle while changes in metabolites from the tibialis anterior muscle are acquired non-invasively with the 31P coil. Two protocols will be performed: Firstly, 10 repeated contractions (one per 3 sec with a load representing 30% of maximal force) will result in a depletion (30-40%) of phosphocreatine (PCr). The rate constant for PCr recovery over 10 min will be used as an index of in vivo mitochondrial function. Secondly, a total of 80 repeated contractions (one per 3 sec with a load representing 30% of maximal force) will be used to quantify muscle fatigue and concurrent changes in muscle metabolites and intracellular pH (based on the chemical shift between inorganic phosphate and PCr).
1 weeks
Mitochondria Function in vitro measured as maximal oxygen consumption
Time Frame: 1 weeks
All measurements were performed in duplicate using an Oxygraph-2k (Oroboros, Austria), in hyperoxygenated chambers (250-450 nmol O₂/mL). Respiratory Control Ratio was used to evaluate mitochondrial efficiency. It was calculated as the ratio of maximal ADP-supported respiration (with complex I + II substrates) to leak respiration. Leak respiration reflects oxygen consumption in the absence of ATP synthesis, when only substrates are present and no ADP is added.
1 weeks
Body composition
Time Frame: 1 weeks
DXA
1 weeks
Satelitte cells
Time Frame: 1 weeks
Histochemical Analysis of Muscle tisse
1 weeks
Muscle fiber cross-sectional Area
Time Frame: 1 weeks
Histochemical Analysis of Muscle Tissue
1 weeks
Expression of Muscle proteins
Time Frame: 1 weeks
Western blotting analysis
1 weeks
FACS Analysis
Time Frame: 1 weeks
FACS analysis to quantify and isolate Muscle satelitte celss, fibro-adipogenic progenitors and macrofages
1 weeks
Muscle Strength
Time Frame: 1 weeks
Includes measure of leg strength during isometric and dynamic maximal voluntary contractions in a dynamometer (Humac Norm, CSMi, Massachusetts, United States) with a hip angle of 90°. In addition, finger strength, hand grip strength
1 weeks
Functional tests
Time Frame: 1 weeks
Includes counter-movement jump on a speed force-platform (Swift performance, Australia). To measure dexterity, the nine-hole peg test will be applied.
1 weeks
Cardiovascular fitness
Time Frame: 1 week
Vo2max test on a bike and estimated via Ventriject
1 week
Maximal fat oxidation rate
Time Frame: 1 week
Bike test with increasing intensity steps
1 week
Resisting metabolic rate
Time Frame: 1 week
1 week
Questionaires
Time Frame: 1 week
The participant will be asked to fill out recognized questionnaires about menopause (Menopause Rating Scale), sleep, diet and training readiness (modified version of "The wellbeing review"
1 week
Physical Activity Level
Time Frame: 1 week
Accelerometers
1 week
Flexibility
Time Frame: 1 week
sit-and-reach test
1 week
Knee laxity
Time Frame: 1 week
Lachmeter test
1 week
Protein expression in adipose tissue
Time Frame: 1 week
Two adipose tissue biopsies will be obtained from each participant by a trained physician. Western blotting analysis of expression of proteins related to lipolysis and lipogenesis
1 week
Blood pressure
Time Frame: 1 week
1 week
Blood volume
Time Frame: 1 week
Determination of blood volume and haemoglobin mass by the carbon-monoxide rebreathing method
1 week

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Blood analysis
Time Frame: 1 week
Estradiol testosteron SHBG progesteron FSH LH Insulin IGF-1 + IGF-1 Bp3 - metabolit LDL - lipid HDL - lipid Triglycerid - lipid Total cholesterol Kortisol P1NP CTX1 - knogle HbA1c PTH CRP p-kreatinase p-kreatinin+eGFR p-calcium p-alanintransaminase p-alb
1 week
Dairy record registration
Time Frame: 1 week
A total of five days prior to the test
1 week
Height
Time Frame: 1 week
1 week
Body mass
Time Frame: 1 week
1 week

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Mette Hansen

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Aarhus University Hospital
University of Copenhagen
Aalborg University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Mette Hansen, PhD, Aarhus University, Department of Public Health

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 27, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 16, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • E30 HER-MUSCLE cross sectional

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Do to GDPR rules, we do not plan to share

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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