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Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
12:59

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Published on: July 5, 2017

Androgen therapy induces muscle protein anabolism in older women

Melinda Sheffield-Moore1, Douglas Paddon-Jones, Shanon L Casperson

  • 1University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0569, USA.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|August 10, 2006
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Older women and men respond to oxandrolone (OX), a testosterone derivative, for muscle growth. However, the anabolic response in women

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Muscle Physiology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Aging leads to muscle mass and strength decline in both sexes.
  • Androgens promote anabolism in older men, but their effects on older women's metabolism are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the anabolic effects of oxandrolone (OX) on skeletal muscle biomarkers in older women.
  • To compare the response in older women to that in older men.

Main Methods:

  • Oral administration of oxandrolone (OX) to five older women (7.5 mg twice daily for 14 days) and seven older men (10 mg twice daily for 14 days).
  • Measurement of skeletal muscle fractional synthetic rate (FSR), net phenylalanine balance, androgen receptor, and IGF-I protein expression at baseline and during treatment.

Main Results:

  • Oxandrolone (OX) significantly increased skeletal muscle FSR in older women over 14 days.
  • Older men showed a faster increase in FSR, with significant stimulation after 5 days.
  • Androgen receptor expression increased in older men but not in older women; IGF-I expression remained unchanged in both groups.

Conclusions:

  • Skeletal muscle in both older women and men responds to androgen administration.
  • The time course of the anabolic response to oxandrolone (OX) appears to be gender-specific.

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