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The Effect of Tibolone on Fat Mass, Fat-Free Mass, and Total Body Water in Postmenopausal Women

Mobility Laboratory, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Utrecht University Medical Center, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Ingrid B. A. E. Meeuwsen, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Utrecht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 85500 (Room W01.209), 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail: i.meeuwsen{at}azu.nl

Changes in body composition occur around the menopausal transition. The major characteristics are a decline in fat-free mass and an increase in body fat as a percentage of body weight. These alterations might be affected by age only or by menopause-related changes in hormone concentration. In this study the effects of tibolone, a tissue-specific compound with favorable effects on bone, vagina, and climacteric symptoms, were determined on body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis. The focus was especially on fat mass, fat-free mass, and total body water in a group of 85 healthy women (mean ± SD age, 54.2 ± 4.7 yr), between 1–15 yr postmenopausal. Participants were randomly assigned to either tibolone (2.5 mg; n = 42) or identically appearing placebo tablets (n = 43) daily for 12 months. All analyses were based on the intent to treat group and last visit. Compared with placebo, tibolone significantly increased fat-free mass by 0.85 kg (P = 0.003) and total body water by 0.78 liter (P = 0.001). No significant difference was observed on the fat mass parameter (P = 0.16). From these results it can be concluded that tibolone may counteract the postmenopausal changes in body composition.

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