Role of Menopausal Transition and Physical Activity in Loss of Lean and Muscle Mass : A Follow-Up Study in Middle-Aged Finnish Women
Year of publication
2020
Authors
Juppi, Hanna-Kaarina; Sipilä, Sarianna; Cronin, J. Neil; Karvinen, Sira; Karppinen, E. Jari; Tammelin, H. Tuija; Aukee, Pauliina; Kovanen, Vuokko; Kujala, M. Urho; Laakkonen, K. Eija
Abstract
In midlife, women experience hormonal changes due to menopausal transition. A decrease especially in estradiol has been hypothesized to cause loss of muscle mass. This study investigated the effect of menopausal transition on changes in lean and muscle mass, from the total body to the muscle fiber level, among 47–55-year-old women. Data were used from the Estrogenic Regulation of Muscle Apoptosis (ERMA) study, where 234 women were followed from perimenopause to early postmenopause. Hormone levels (estradiol and follicle stimulating hormone), total and regional body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and computed tomography (CT) scans), physical activity level (self-reported and accelerometer-measured) and muscle fiber properties (muscle biopsy) were assessed at baseline and at early postmenopause. Significant decreases were seen in lean body mass (LBM), lean body mass index (LBMI), appendicular lean mass (ALM), appendicular lean mass index (ALMI), leg lean mass and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). Menopausal status was a significant predictor for all tested muscle mass variables, while physical activity was an additional significant contributor for LBM, ALM, ALMI, leg lean mass and relative muscle CSA. Menopausal transition was associated with loss of muscle mass at multiple anatomical levels, while physical activity was beneficial for the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass.
Show moreOrganizations and authors
Publication type
Publication format
Article
Parent publication type
Journal
Article type
Original article
Audience
ScientificPeer-reviewed
Peer-ReviewedMINEDU's publication type classification code
A1 Journal article (refereed), original researchPublication channel information
Journal
Publisher
Volume
9
Issue
5
Article number
1588
ISSN
Publication forum
Publication forum level
1
Open access
Open access in the publisher’s service
Yes
Open access of publication channel
Fully open publication channel
Self-archived
Yes
Article processing fee (EUR)
1900
Year of payment for the open publication fee
2020
Other information
Fields of science
Public health care science, environmental and occupational health; Sport and fitness sciences
Keywords
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Publication country
Switzerland
Internationality of the publisher
International
Language
English
International co-publication
Yes
Co-publication with a company
No
DOI
10.3390/jcm9051588
The publication is included in the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Publication data collection
Yes