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Effects of Estrogen on Muscle Gain During 12-weeks of Exercise in Post-menopausal Women (HER-MUSCLE)

23 mei 2026 bijgewerkt door: Mette Hansen

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 mechanisms by which oestrogen enhances muscle growth, providing insights for targeted therapies to improve the health and physical function of postmenopausal females.

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

The project involves:

  1. Clinical Trial: Postmenopausal females will receive either oestrogen or placebo, twelve weeks of exercise training to detect oestrogen regulatory role on muscle mass and function.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Studie Overzicht

Gedetailleerde beschrijving

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 mechanisms by which oestrogen enhances muscle growth, providing insights for targeted therapies to improve the health and physical function of postmenopausal females.

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

The project involves:

  1. Clinical Trial: Postmenopausal females will receive either oestrogen or placebo, twelve weeks of exercise training to detect oestrogen regulatory role on muscle mass and function.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Studietype

Ingrijpend

Inschrijving (Geschat)

30

Fase

  • Niet toepasbaar

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

  • Naam: Mette Hansen, PhD
  • Telefoonnummer: +4551666551
  • E-mail: mhan@ph.au.dk

Studie Locaties

    • Jutland
      • Aarhus, Jutland, Denemarken, 8000
        • Werving
        • Aarhus University
        • Contact:
          • Mette Hansen, PhD
          • Telefoonnummer: +4551666551
          • E-mail: mhan@ph.au.dk

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

  • Volwassen
  • Oudere volwassene

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Ja

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 1-10 years since last menstrual bleeding
  • Age > 40 years old
  • BMI 20-30

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Follicular stimulating hormone < 30 mmol/L
  • Systematic strength training during the last year (> 1 strength training session 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

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

  • Primair doel: Fundamentele wetenschap
  • Toewijzing: Gerandomiseerd
  • Interventioneel model: Parallelle opdracht
  • Masker: Verdrievoudigen

Wapens en interventies

Deelnemersgroep / Arm
Interventie / Behandeling
Experimenteel: Estrogen
Transdermal Estrogen Administration
The other group receive placebo treatment
Both groups will go through 12 weeks of supervised physical exercise, consisting of both strength training and cardiovascular training
Placebo-vergelijker: Placebo
Transdermal placebo administration
Both groups will go through 12 weeks of supervised physical exercise, consisting of both strength training and cardiovascular training

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Muscle mass
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Magnetic resonance imaging of one leg before and after intervention
12 weeks

Secundaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Bloeddruk
Tijdsspanne: 12 weken
12 weken
Mitochondria Function in vivo measured as phosphocreatine recovery rate
Tijdsspanne: 12 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).
12 weeks
Mitochondria Function in vitro measured as maximal oxygen consumption
Tijdsspanne: 12 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.

12 weeks
Body composition
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
DXA
12 weeks
Satelitte cells
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Histochemical Analysis of Muscle tisse
12 weeks
Muscle fiber cross-sectional Area
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Histochemical Analysis of Muscle Tissue
12 weeks
Expression of Muscle proteins
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Western blotting analysis
12 weeks
FACS Analysis
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
FACS analysis to quantify and isolate Muscle satelitte celss, fibro-adipogenic progenitors and macrofages
12 weeks
Muscle Strength
Tijdsspanne: 12 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
12 weeks
Functional test
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Includes counter-movement jump on a speed force-platform (Swift performance, Australia). To measure dexterity, the nine-hole peg test will be applied.
12 weeks
Cardiovascular fitness
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Vo2max test on a bike and estimated via Ventriject
12 weeks
Maximal fat oxidation rate
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Bike test with increasing intensity steps
12 weeks
Resisting metabolic rate
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
12 weeks
Questionaires
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
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"
12 weeks
Physical Activity Level
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Accelerometers
12 weeks
Flexibility
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
sit-and-reach test
12 weeks
Knee laxity
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Lachmeter test
12 weeks
Protein expression in adipose tissue
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Two adipose tissue biopsies will be obtained from each participant by a trained physician before and after 12 weeks from subcutaneous abdominal and gluteal regions. Western blotting analysis of expression of proteins related to lipolysis and lipogenesis
12 weeks
Blood volume
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Determination of blood volume and haemoglobin mass by the carbon-monoxide rebreathing method
12 weeks

Andere uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Hoogte
Tijdsspanne: 12 weken
12 weken
Blood analysis
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
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-albumin Alkalisk fosfatase (ALP) 6-keto-PGF1a Endothelin-1 s-VCAM-1 s-ICAM-1 Glucose Hæmoglobin Hæmatokrit
12 weeks
Dairy record registration
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
Before the intervention and during during rehabilization
12 weeks
Body mass
Tijdsspanne: 12 weeks
12 weeks

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Sponsor

Onderzoekers

  • Hoofdonderzoeker: Mette Hansen, PhD, Aarhus University, Department of Public Health

Publicaties en nuttige links

De persoon die verantwoordelijk is voor het invoeren van informatie over het onderzoek stelt deze publicaties vrijwillig ter beschikking. Dit kan gaan over alles wat met het onderzoek te maken heeft.

Nuttige links

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Werkelijk)

1 februari 2026

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

1 augustus 2027

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

1 augustus 2027

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

27 februari 2026

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

23 mei 2026

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

1 juni 2026

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)

1 juni 2026

Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria

23 mei 2026

Laatst geverifieerd

1 mei 2026

Meer informatie

Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie

Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)

Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?

NEE

Beschrijving IPD-plan

Do to GDPR rules, we do not plan to share

Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel

Nee

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct

Nee

Deze informatie is zonder wijzigingen rechtstreeks van de website clinicaltrials.gov gehaald. Als u verzoeken heeft om uw onderzoeksgegevens te wijzigen, te verwijderen of bij te werken, neem dan contact op met register@clinicaltrials.gov. Zodra er een wijziging wordt doorgevoerd op clinicaltrials.gov, wordt deze ook automatisch bijgewerkt op onze website .

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