The role of estrogen in female skeletal muscle aging: A systematic review
Open accessAbstract
Aging is associated with a loss of skeletal muscle mass and function that negatively impacts the independence and quality of life of older individuals. Females demonstrate a distinct pattern of muscle aging compared to males, potentially due to menopause, when the production of endogenous sex hormones declines. This systematic review aims to investigate the current knowledge about the role of estrogen in female skeletal muscle aging. A systematic search of MEDLINE Complete, Global Health, Embase, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and CINHAL was conducted. Studies were considered eligible if they compared a state of estrogen deficiency (e.g. postmenopausal females) or supplementation (e.g. estrogen therapy) to normal estrogen conditions (e.g. premenopausal females or no supplementation). Outcome variables of interest included measures of skeletal muscle mass, function, damage/repair, and energy metabolism. Quality assessment was completed with the relevant Johanna Briggs critical appraisal tool, and data were synthesized in a narrative manner. Thirty-two studies were included in the review. Compared to premenopausal women, postmenopausal women had reduced muscle mass and strength, but the effect of menopause on markers of muscle damage and expression of the genes involved in metabolic signaling pathways remains unclear. Some studies suggest a beneficial effect of estrogen therapy on muscle size and strength, but evidence is largely conflicting and inconclusive, potentially due to large variations in the reporting and status of exposure and outcomes. The findings from this review point toward a potential negative effect of estrogen deficiency on aging skeletal muscle, but further mechanistic evidence is needed to clarify its role.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Adequate sleep supports recovery, optimizes hormone balance particularly GH, and enhances mTOR signaling and MPS.
“Adequate sleep supports recovery, optimizes hormone balance—particularly GH, which peaks during slow-wave sleep and is essential for muscle repair and regeneration—and enhances mTOR signaling and therefore MPS.”
From Beyond Calories: Individual Metabolic and Hormonal Adaptations Driving Variability in Weight Management—A State-of-the-Art Narrative Review (2024) · cites this paper as [86]
Women with higher estrogen levels benefit from estrogen's mitochondrial protective effects, enhancing oxidative capacity and reducing proteolysis.
“Women with higher estrogen levels benefit from estrogen’s mitochondrial protective effects, which enhance oxidative capacity and reduce proteolysis, as it reduces reliance on amino acids for gluconeogenesis.”
From Beyond Calories: Individual Metabolic and Hormonal Adaptations Driving Variability in Weight Management—A State-of-the-Art Narrative Review (2024) · cites this paper as [86]
Testosterone and estrogen play essential roles in muscle preservation, with testosterone promoting MPS via mTOR and estrogen supporting metabolic efficiency and glucose utilization.
“Testosterone and estrogen play essential roles in muscle preservation, with testosterone promoting MPS via mTOR activation and estrogen supporting metabolic efficiency and glucose utilization.”
From Beyond Calories: Individual Metabolic and Hormonal Adaptations Driving Variability in Weight Management—A State-of-the-Art Narrative Review (2024) · cites this paper as [86]
Disrupted sleep impairs GH secretion, limiting muscle repair and activating a catabolic state.
“Disrupted sleep, on the other hand, impairs GH secretion, limiting muscle repair and activating a catabolic state that makes muscle tissue more prone to breakdown [86].”
From Beyond Calories: Individual Metabolic and Hormonal Adaptations Driving Variability in Weight Management—A State-of-the-Art Narrative Review (2024) · cites this paper as [86]
Polymorphisms in ESR1 influence estrogen sensitivity, affecting muscle retention capacity in women.
“Polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) gene influence estrogen sensitivity, affecting muscle retention capacity in women [86].”
From Beyond Calories: Individual Metabolic and Hormonal Adaptations Driving Variability in Weight Management—A State-of-the-Art Narrative Review (2024) · cites this paper as [86]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Cruz-Jentoft, A. J., & Sayer, A. A. (2019) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(19)31138-9 · Cited by 3,905 · see citing works
Janssen, I., Heymsfield, S. B., & Ross, R. (2002) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50216.x · Cited by 3,139 · see citing works
Estrogen receptors: how do they signal and what are their targets
Heldring, N., Pike, A., Andersson, S., Matthews, J., Cheng, G., Hartman, J., Tujague, M., Ström, A., Treuter, E., Warner, M., et al. (2007) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.00026.2006 · Cited by 1,857 · see citing works
Executive summary of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10
Harlow, S. D., Gass, M. L. S., Hall, J. E., Lobo, R. A., Maki, P. M., Rebar, R. W., Sherman, S., Sluss, P. M., & de Villiers, T. J. (2012) · Menopause The Journal of The North American Menopause Society · doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e31824d8f40 · Cited by 1,729 · see citing works
Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Humans
Clarkson, P. M., & Hubal, M. J. (2002) · American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation · doi:10.1097/00002060-200211001-00007 · Cited by 1,478 · see citing works
Visser, M., Goodpaster, B. H., Kritchevsky, S. B., Newman, A. B., Nevitt, M., Rubin, S. M., Simonsick, E. M., Harris, T. B., & Study, F. T. H. A. (2005) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences · doi:10.1093/gerona/60.3.324 · Cited by 1,403 · see citing works
Testosterone dose-response relationships in healthy young men
Bhasin, S., Woodhouse, L., Casaburi, R., Singh, A. B., Bhasin, D., Berman, N., Chen, X., Yarasheski, K. E., Magliano, L., Dzekov, C., et al. (2001) · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1152/ajpendo.2001.281.6.e1172 · Cited by 967 · see citing works
Estrogen synthesis and signaling pathways during aging: from periphery to brain
Cui, J., Shen, Y., & Li, R. (2013) · Trends in Molecular Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.molmed.2012.12.007 · Cited by 785 · see citing works
The impact of sex on gene expression across human tissues
Oliva, M., Muñoz-Aguirre, M., Kim-Hellmuth, S., Wucher, V., Gewirtz, A. D., Cotter, D. J., Parsana, P., Kasela, S., Balliu, B., Viñuela, A., et al. (2020) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aba3066 · Cited by 679 · see citing works
Sarcopenia: Definition, Epidemiology, and Pathophysiology
Kim, T. N., & Choi, K. M. (2013) · Journal of Bone Metabolism · doi:10.11005/jbm.2013.20.1.1 · Cited by 505 · see citing works
Sarcopenia – Molecular mechanisms and open questions
Wiedmer, P., Jung, T., Castro, J. P., Pomatto, L. C. D., Sun, P. Y., Davies, K. J. A., & Grune, T. (2020) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2020.101200 · Cited by 476 · see citing works
Gender Differences in Physical Disability Among an Elderly Cohort
Murtagh, K. N., & Hubert, H. B. (2004) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.94.8.1406 · Cited by 465 · see citing works
Expression of Both Oestrogen Receptor Alpha and Beta in Human Skeletal Muscle Tissue
Wiik, A., Ekman, M., Johansson, O., Jansson, E., & Esbjörnsson, M. (2009) · Histochemistry and Cell Biology · doi:10.1007/s00418-008-0512-x · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Estrogen Regulates the Satellite Cell Compartment in Females
Collins, B. C., Arpke, R. W., Larson, A. A., Baumann, C. W., Xie, N., Cabelka, C. A., Nash, N. L., Juppi, H., Laakkonen, E. K., Sipilä, S., et al. (2019) · Cell Reports · doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2019.06.025 · Cited by 177 · see citing works
Mechanisms of Estrogen Influence on Skeletal Muscle: Mass, Regeneration, and Mitochondrial Function
Pellegrino, A., Tiidus, P. M., & Vandenboom, R. (2022) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-022-01733-9 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Loss of Appendicular Muscle Mass and Loss of Muscle Strength in Young Postmenopausal Women
Rolland, Y., Perry, H. M., Patrick, P., Banks, W. A., & Morley, J. E. (2007) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/62.3.330 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Grip strength and bone mineral density in older women
Kritz‐Silverstein, D. C., & Barrett-Connor, E. (1994) · Journal of Bone and Mineral Research · doi:10.1002/jbmr.5650090107 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Toth, M. J., Poehlman, É. T., Matthews, D. E., Tchernof, A., & MacCoss, M. J. (2001) · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1152/ajpendo.2001.280.3.e496 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Smith, G. I., Yoshino, J., Reeds, D. N., Bradley, D., Burrows, R. E., Heisey, H. D., Moseley, A. C., & Mittendorfer, B. (2014) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2013-2835 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Pöllänen, E., Sipilä, S., Alén, M., Ronkainen, P. H. A., Ankarberg‐Lindgren, C., Puolakka, J. O., Suominen, H., Hämäläinen, E. K., Turpeinen, U., Konttinen, Y. T., et al. (2011) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/j.1474-9726.2011.00701.x · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Cauley, J. A., Petrini, A. M., LaPorte, R. E., Sandler, R. B., Bayles, C. M., Robertson, R. J., & Slemenda, C. W. (1987) · Journal of Chronic Diseases · doi:10.1016/0021-9681(87)90062-2 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Kenny, R. A., Dawson, L. M., Kleppinger, A., Iannuzzi-Sucich, M., & Judge, J. O. (2003) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/58.5.m436 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Hormone Replacement Therapy, Insulin Sensitivity, and Abdominal Obesity in Postmenopausal Women
Ryan, A. S., Nicklas, B. J., & Berman, D. M. (2002) · Diabetes Care · doi:10.2337/diacare.25.1.127 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Juppi, H., Sipilä, S., Cronin, N. J., Karvinen, S. M., Karppinen, J. E., Tammelin, T., Aukee, P., Kovanen, V., Kujala, U. M., & Laakkonen, E. K. (2020) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm9051588 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Association Between Hormone Therapy and Muscle Mass in Postmenopausal Women
Javed, A. A., Mayhew, A., Shea, A. K., & Raina, P. S. (2019) · JAMA Network Open · doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.10154 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Haynes, E. M. K., Neubauer, N., Cornett, K., O’Connor, B. P., Jones, G. R., & Jakobi, J. M. (2020) · Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism · doi:10.1139/apnm-2020-0081 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Estrogen Replacement, Muscle Composition, and Physical Function: The Health ABC Study
Taaffe, D. R., Newman, A. B., Haggerty, C. L., Colbert, L. H., de Rekeneire, N., Visser, M., Goodpaster, B. H., Nevitt, M. C., Tylavsky, F. A., & Harris, T. B. (2005) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/01.mss.0000181678.28092.31 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Estradiol stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and adiponectin expression in skeletal muscle
Capllonch-Amer, G., Sbert-Roig, M., Galmés-Pascual, B. M., Proenza, A. M., Lladó, I., Gianotti, M., & García-Palmer, F. (2014) · Journal of Endocrinology · doi:10.1530/joe-14-0008 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Hansen, M., Skovgaard, D. C., Reitelseder, S., Holm, L., Langberg, H., & Kjær, M. (2012) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/gls007 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Sex differences in skeletal muscle-aging trajectory: same processes, but with a different ranking
de Jong, J. C. B. C., Attema, B. J., van der Hoek, M. D., Verschuren, L., Caspers, M. P. M., Kleemann, R., van der Leij, F. R., van den Hoek, A. M., Nieuwenhuizen, A. G., & Keijer, J. (2023) · GeroScience · doi:10.1007/s11357-023-00750-4 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Maximal Muscle Strength of Elderly Women is not Influenced by Oestrogen Status
Taaffe, D. R., Villa, M. L., Delay, R. R., & Marcus, R. (1995) · Age and Ageing · doi:10.1093/ageing/24.4.329 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Pöllänen, E., Kangas, R., Horttanainen, M., Niskala, P., Kaprio, J. A., Butler-Browne, G. S., Mouly, V., Sipilä, S., & Kovanen, V. (2015) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/acel.12309 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Mouser, J. G., Loprinzi, P. D., & Loenneke, J. P. (2016) · Steroids · doi:10.1016/j.steroids.2016.08.009 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Bassey, E. J., Mockett, S. P., & Fentem, P. H. (1996) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/bf02425503 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Laakkonen, E. K., Soliymani, R., Karvinen, S. M., Kaprio, J. A., Kujala, U. M., Baumann, M., Sipilä, S., Kovanen, V., & Lalowski, M. M. (2017) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/acel.12661 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Effect of ovariectomy and estradiol replacement on skeletal muscle enzyme activity in female rats
Beckett, T., Tchernof, A., & Toth, M. J. (2002) · Metabolism · doi:10.1053/meta.2002.35592 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Nyberg, M., Egelund, J., Mandrup, C. M., Roland, C. B., Hansen, K. M., Hergel, I.-M., Valbak‐Andersen, N., Frikke‐Schmidt, R., Stallknecht, B. M., Bangsbo, J., et al. (2017) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jp273871 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Tsai, W., Mccormick, K., Brazeau, D., & Brazeau, G. (2007) · Experimental biology and medicine · doi:10.3181/0704-rm-92 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Knowles, O. E., Aisbett, B., Main, L. C., Drinkwater, E. J., Orellana, L., & Lamon, S. (2019) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-019-01132-7 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Self-citationTime since menopause and skeletal muscle estrogen receptors, PGC-1α, and AMPK
Park, Y. M., Pereira, R. I., Erickson, C. B., Swibas, T., Kang, C., & Pelt, R. E. V. (2017) · Menopause The Journal of The North American Menopause Society · doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000000829 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Pingel, J., Langberg, H., Skovgård, D., Koskinen, S., Flyvbjerg, A., Frystyk, J., Kjær, M., & Hansen, M. (2012) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01463.2011 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Age and estrogen-based hormone therapy affect systemic and local IL-6 and IGF-1 pathways in women
Ahtiainen, M., Pöllänen, E., Ronkainen, P. H. A., Alén, M., Puolakka, J. O., Kaprio, J. A., Sipilä, S., & Kovanen, V. (2011) · AGE · doi:10.1007/s11357-011-9298-1 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Preisinger, E., Alacamlioglu, Y., Saradeth, T., Resch, K. L., Holzer, G., & Metka, M. (1995) · Maturitas · doi:10.1016/0378-5122(94)00857-4 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Park, Y.-M., Keller, A. C., Runchey, S. S., Miller, B. F., Kohrt, W. M., Pelt, R. E. V., Kang, C., Jankowski, C. M., & Moreau, K. L. (2019) · Steroids · doi:10.1016/j.steroids.2019.03.008 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Age-Related Variations of Serum CK and CK MB Response in Females
Arnett, M. G., Hyslop, R. M., Dennehy, C. A., et al. (2000) · Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1139/h00-027 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Park, Y.-M., Jankowski, C., Ozemek, C., Hildreth, K. L., Kohrt, W., & Moreau, K. (2020) · Journal of applied physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00315.2019 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Kong, S. H., Kim, J. H., Lee, J. H., Hong, A. R., Shin, C. S., & Cho, N. H. (2019) · Calcified Tissue International · doi:10.1007/s00223-019-00566-5 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Maddalozzo, G. F., Cardinal, B. J., Li, F., & Snow, C. M. (2004) · Menopause The Journal of The North American Menopause Society · doi:10.1097/01.gme.0000113847.74835.fe · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Serum creatine kinase activity after isometric exercise in premenopausal and postmenopausal women
Buckley-Bleiler, R., Maughan, R., Clarkson, P. M., et al. (1989) · Experimental Aging Research · doi:10.1080/03610738908259775 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Factors associated with measures of sarcopenia in pre and postmenopausal women
Rathnayake, N., Alwis, G., Lenora, J., & Lekamwasam, S. (2021) · BMC Women's Health · doi:10.1186/s12905-020-01153-9 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Gender-Specific Associations of Appendicular Muscle Mass with BMD in Elderly Italian Subjects
Gonnelli, S., Caffarelli, C., Cappelli, S., Rossi, S., Giordano, N. G., & Nuti, R. (2014) · Calcified Tissue International · doi:10.1007/s00223-014-9902-3 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Bochud, M., Ponte, B., Pruijm, M. T., Ackermann, D., Guessous, I., Ehret, G., Escher, G., Groessl, M., Younes, S. E., d’Uscio, C. H., et al. (2019) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2018-01942 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Guligowska, A., Chrząstek, Z., Pawlikowski, M., Pigłowska, M., Pisarek, H., Winczyk, K., & Kostka, T. (2021) · Frontiers in Endocrinology · doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.797243 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Mangan, G., Iqbal, S., Hubbard, A., Hamilton, V., Bombardier, É., & Tiidus, P. M. (2015) · Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology · doi:10.1139/cjpp-2015-0106 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Perimenopausal women show modulation of excitatory and inhibitory neuromuscular mechanisms
Pesonen, H., Laakkonen, E. K., Hautasaari, P., Aukee, P., Kovanen, V., Sipilä, S., Finni, T. J., & Tarkka, I. M. (2021) · BMC Women s Health · doi:10.1186/s12905-021-01275-8 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Postmenopausal Well-Trained Women
Romero‐Parra, N., Maestre-Cascales, C., Marín‐Jiménez, N., Rael, B., Alfaro-Magallanes, V. M., Cupeiro, R., & Peinado, A. B. (2021) · Sports Health A Multidisciplinary Approach · doi:10.1177/19417381211014134 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Skeletal Muscle Metabolism In Exercise and Diabetes
Slonim, A. E. (1999) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/70.1.114a · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Gonadotropins Are Related to Lean Mass in Healthy Postmenopausal Women
García‐Martin, A., Reyes‐García, R., García-Castro, J. M., Muñoz‐Garach, A., Escobar‐Jiménez, F., & Muñoz‐Torres, M. (2012) · Endocrine Research · doi:10.3109/07435800.2012.733987 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Zhong, W., Shi, X., Yuan, H., Bu, H., Wu, L., & Wang, R. (2019) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.00735 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Theodorakis, N., Kreouzi, M., Pappas, A., & Nikolaou, M. (2024) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms252413438 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
- Authors
- Critchlow, A. J., Hiam, D., Williams, R., Scott, D., & Lamon, S.
- Affiliations
- Deakin University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Critchlow, Annabel J.
- Hiam, Danielle
- Williams, Ross
- Scott, David
- Lamon, Séverine
- Venue
- Maturitas
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2023-12
- Volume
- 178
- Pages
- 107844
- ISSN
- 0378-5122 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4386513765
- Cited by
- 80
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 35 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 14
- FWCI
- 2.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Maturitas (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Australian Research Council (FT210100278)
- National Health and Medical Research Council (GNT1174886)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Keywords
- estrogen, menopause, estrogen deficiency, estrogen therapy, postmenopausal women, muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle damage, muscle repair, energy metabolism, sex differences in aging
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Estrogens, Female, Humans, Male, Menopause, Quality of Life, Muscle, Skeletal
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
