Counteracting sarcopenia in post-menopausal women: do hormones and strength training accomplish the task?

Accelerated loss of muscle mass and strength with aging, termed sarcopenia, represents both an individual problem of decreased mobility as well as a socio-economic burden by increasing risk of falls and subsequent injuries, especially if combined with decreased bone density and mass. The causes of sarcopenia are multifactorial, and include: age-related decline in physical activity, anabolic steroid hormones and growth factors, decreased energy intake and reduced muscle protein synthesis, nervous system degeneration, oxidative stress, and alterations in the immune system. However, the relative role of these factors remains largely unknown. The fact that the rate of muscle loss increases rapidly after transition into menopause suggests a strong coupling to changes in ovarian hormone status [1]. Similarly, it has been shown that menopause transition is also strongly accompanied by a reduction in leisure time physical activity.