Comparative effects of continuous combined hormone therapy and tibolone on body composition in postmenopausal women

Abstract

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of tibolone with those of continuous combined hormone replacement therapy (HT) on body composition in postmenopausal women.

MethodsOne hundred and fifty postmenopausal women were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial to compare the effects of tibolone with continuous combined HT on body composition. Patients were randomly allocated into three groups and followed for 9 months. Of the subjects included, 50 women received 2.5 mg tibolone plus one Cal+D tablet (500 mg calcium and 200 IU vitamin D) daily, 50 women received 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen and 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (CEE/MPA) plus one Cal+D tablet daily, and the rest (50 women) received only one Cal+D tablet and served as a control group. Body composition was evaluated with measurements of body mass index (BMI), weight, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fat mass and fat-free mass (FFM) before and after the intervention. Measurements of body fat mass percentage, fat mass, body fat-free mass percentage and fat-free mass (FFM) were assessed by measurement of skin-fold thickness.

Results Tibolone significantly increased weight, BMI and FFM and decreased WHR after the treatment in comparison with baseline (p < 0.05). However, only weight and BMI increased significantly in the CEE/MPA group after the treatment (p < 0.05). There were significant increases in weight, BMI and fat mass in the control group after 9 months. In the comparison of the parameters after the treatment between the three groups, tibolone significantly increased FFM compared with the control and CEE/MPA groups (p < 0.01).

Conclusions The effect of tibolone on body composition is favorable and therefore tibolone may be regarded as an alternative to continuous combined hormone therapy in postmenopausal women.

Key words:

• Body Composition
• Conjugated Equine Estrogen/Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
• Menopause
• Tibolone

Acknowledgements

This study was carried out with the kind cooperation of the participating patients. We would also like to thank Mrs Moghadam.

Conflict of interest  Nil.

Source of fundingThe CIPLA company supplied the study drug (Tibofem tablet).