ArticleEClinicalMedicine2026
Effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy from adolescence to adulthood on bone mineral density, body composition and muscle strength.
Article in EClinicalMedicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy from adolescence to adulthood on cardiovascular function: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: The number of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) minors seeking medical care continues to increase, however data on long-term effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) started in adolescence remain limited. Methods: This single center study (Ghent University Hospital, Belgium) included a cohort of TGD individuals registered female at birth (RFAB, n = 91) and registered male at birth (RMAB, n = 26) who commenced GAHT during adolescence and were followed into adulthood for up to 10 years. Participants were enrolled retrospectively between September 2023 and December 2024. Outcomes assessed cross-sectionally included areal bone mineral density (aBMD), body composition, handgrip strength, and overall life satisfaction. Lifestyle factors such as alcohol and tobacco use, illicit drug use, and physical inactivity were also examined. Retrospective longitudinal data on aBMD and body composition from the start of medical gender-affirming treatment to the moment of study participation were also analyzed. Findings: Median age at start of GAHT 17.2 (1.7) years for RFAB, 17.0 (2.2) years for RMAB; median GAHT duration at the enrollment 6.0 (2.4) years and 6.6 (3.4) years, respectively. aBMD z-scores remained within the normal range for both RFAB and RMAB participants, with scores aligning more closely to sex registered at birth (SRAB) in RFAB, and to affirmed gender (AG) in RMAB participants. Bone density was influenced by BMI, vitamin D levels, and smoking status, with those who had received GnRH agonists showing lower aBMD at specific sites. No pathological fractures were reported. Body composition shifted toward AG-typical fat and lean mass distribution, with some RFAB individuals exhibiting elevated visceral fat area. Handgrip strength in RFAB participants approached cisgender male reference values, while RMAB individuals showed intermediate values. Psychosocial outcomes indicated generally good self-rated health and life satisfaction, although a subset of participants, particularly among RMAB, reported lower life satisfaction. Interpretation: Long-term GAHT initiated during adolescence promotes alignment of bone density, body composition, and muscle strength consistent with gender identity, without evidence of clinically significant adverse effects. Modifiable lifestyle factors remain important determinants of skeletal health. Overall, participants reported good general health and life satisfaction. Funding: This work was supported by a project grant from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO; GE065819N).
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