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.
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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
99
University of Connecticut Health Center
Farmington, Connecticut, United States
Muscle strength, bone turnover markers
Time frame: baseline, 3 month and 6 months
Changes in activities of daily living, cognitive and emotional function
Time frame: baseline and 6 months
Laboratory tests to measure factors that may reflect or influence changes in bone metabolism
Time frame: baseline and 6 months
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Walking/chair aerobics program 2 sessions per week for 6 months