NCT00664053

Effects of DHEA/Exercise on Bone, Muscle and Balance

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 99 (actual)
• Sponsor: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) · Federal
• Sex: Female
• Age: 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine whether muscle strength and balance will improve in women with frailty selected for dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels below 550 ng/dl treated with DHEAS supplementation and Hatha yoga. Investigators believe the effects of both treatments will improve outcomes more than either treatment alone and may be additive; in addition, lean body mass, skeletal muscle mass, markers of bone turnover and physical performance will improve following treatment with DHEA and/or yoga.

Detailed description

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) and yoga may mitigate or reverse the effects of aging and frailty on bone, muscle and balance loss. The mechanism of the effects may be direct - working through androgen or estrogen receptors in bone, muscle or brain. Or the effects may be indirect, countering effects of the stress response. The specific aims of this study are: 1. To determine the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) supplementation and/or Hatha yoga on muscle strength, balance, body composition and physical performance measures over 6 months in women with osteopenia and some degree of frailty 2. To determine the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) supplementation and/or Hatha yoga on function (physical and cognitive), bone metabolism, and cardiovascular risk factors.

Conditions

• Osteoporosis
• Frailty

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	DHEA	50mg daily for 6 months
BEHAVIORAL	Yoga	2 sessions per week for 6 months
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Placebo	Placebo supplement every day for 6 months
BEHAVIORAL	Aerobics	Walking/chair aerobics program 2 sessions per week for 6 months

Timeline

• Start date: 2004-10-01
• Primary completion: 2006-10-01
• Completion: 2006-10-01
• First posted: 2008-04-22
• Last updated: 2008-04-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States