An observational study in Muscle Mass and Strength and Menopause, sponsored by Mette Hansen. Recruiting at 1 site in Denmark. Open to female participants aged 47 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-16.
Sponsored by Mette Hansen · Observational
As females age and transition through menopause, the decline in oestrogen level profoundly affects skeletal muscle mass and function. HER-MUSCLE aims to unravel the differences in pre and post menopausal women, in regards to muscle size, strength and function.
Focusing on postmenopausal females, an increasingly at-risk demographic, HER-MUSCLE addresses a critical gap in understanding how oestrogen influences muscle mass and function.
The project involves:
Our preliminary data indicate that oestrogen can promote muscle protein synthesis. HER-MUSCLE aims to pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies to manage sarcopenia in postmenopausal women, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and enhanced well-being for this growing population segment.
As females age and transition through menopause, the decline in oestrogen level profoundly affects skeletal muscle mass and function. HER-MUSCLE aims to unravel the differences in pre and post menopausal women, in regards to muscle size, strength and function.
Focusing on postmenopausal females, an increasingly at-risk demographic, HER-MUSCLE addresses a critical gap in understanding how oestrogen influences muscle mass and function.
The project involves:
Our preliminary data indicate that oestrogen can promote muscle protein synthesis. HER-MUSCLE aims to pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies to manage sarcopenia in postmenopausal women, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and enhanced well-being for this growing population segment.
Mette Hansen is the lead sponsor of 3 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Participants will primarily be recruited from a radius of 50km from Aarhus.
Participants recruited will be age matched to participants in the main trial.
Exclusion Criteria:
Muscle mass
Magnetic resonance imaging
Time frame: 1 week
Mitochondria Function in vivo measured as phosphocreatine recovery rate
The dominant foot will be attached to a pedal mounted on the patient bed and a dedicated 31P surface coil will be secured over the tibialis anterior muscle. The pedal is designed to allow dynamic contractions of the tibialis anterior muscle while changes in metabolites from the tibialis anterior muscle are acquired non-invasively with the 31P coil. Two protocols will be performed: Firstly, 10 repeated contractions (one per 3 sec with a load representing 30% of maximal force) will result in a depletion (30-40%) of phosphocreatine (PCr). The rate constant for PCr recovery over 10 min will be used as an index of in vivo mitochondrial function. Secondly, a total of 80 repeated contractions (one per 3 sec with a load representing 30% of maximal force) will be used to quantify muscle fatigue and concurrent changes in muscle metabolites and intracellular pH (based on the chemical shift between inorganic phosphate and PCr).
Time frame: 1 weeks
Mitochondria Function in vitro measured as maximal oxygen consumption
All measurements were performed in duplicate using an Oxygraph-2k (Oroboros, Austria), in hyperoxygenated chambers (250-450 nmol O₂/mL). Respiratory Control Ratio was used to evaluate mitochondrial efficiency. It was calculated as the ratio of maximal ADP-supported respiration (with complex I + II substrates) to leak respiration. Leak respiration reflects oxygen consumption in the absence of ATP synthesis, when only substrates are present and no ADP is added.
Time frame: 1 weeks
Body composition
DXA
Time frame: 1 weeks
Satelitte cells
Histochemical Analysis of Muscle tisse
Time frame: 1 weeks
Muscle fiber cross-sectional Area
Histochemical Analysis of Muscle Tissue
Time frame: 1 weeks
Expression of Muscle proteins
Western blotting analysis
Time frame: 1 weeks
FACS Analysis
FACS analysis to quantify and isolate Muscle satelitte celss, fibro-adipogenic progenitors and macrofages
Time frame: 1 weeks
Muscle Strength
Includes measure of leg strength during isometric and dynamic maximal voluntary contractions in a dynamometer (Humac Norm, CSMi, Massachusetts, United States) with a hip angle of 90°. In addition, finger strength, hand grip strength
Time frame: 1 weeks
Functional tests
Includes counter-movement jump on a speed force-platform (Swift performance, Australia). To measure dexterity, the nine-hole peg test will be applied.
Time frame: 1 weeks
Cardiovascular fitness
Vo2max test on a bike and estimated via Ventriject
Time frame: 1 week
Maximal fat oxidation rate
Bike test with increasing intensity steps
Time frame: 1 week
Resisting metabolic rate
Time frame: 1 week
Questionaires
The participant will be asked to fill out recognized questionnaires about menopause (Menopause Rating Scale), sleep, diet and training readiness (modified version of "The wellbeing review"
Time frame: 1 week
Physical Activity Level
Accelerometers
Time frame: 1 week
Flexibility
sit-and-reach test
Time frame: 1 week
Knee laxity
Lachmeter test
Time frame: 1 week
Protein expression in adipose tissue
Two adipose tissue biopsies will be obtained from each participant by a trained physician. Western blotting analysis of expression of proteins related to lipolysis and lipogenesis
Time frame: 1 week
Blood pressure
Time frame: 1 week
Blood volume
Determination of blood volume and haemoglobin mass by the carbon-monoxide rebreathing method
Time frame: 1 week
Blood analysis
Estradiol testosteron SHBG progesteron FSH LH Insulin IGF-1 + IGF-1 Bp3 - metabolit LDL - lipid HDL - lipid Triglycerid - lipid Total cholesterol Kortisol P1NP CTX1 - knogle HbA1c PTH CRP p-kreatinase p-kreatinin+eGFR p-calcium p-alanintransaminase p-alb
Time frame: 1 week
Dairy record registration
A total of five days prior to the test
Time frame: 1 week
Height
Time frame: 1 week
Body mass
Time frame: 1 week
Plan to share: No — Do to GDPR rules, we do not plan to share
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.