title: The relative fatty acid composition of serum lecithin and cholesterol ester: influence of an estrogen-progestogen regimen in climacteric women.
abstract: The relative fatty acid compositions of serum lecithin and cholesterol ester were studied during continuous treatment with an estrogen/progestogen combination. All 26 women who participated suffered from climacteric complaints and were given one tablet daily containing 2 mg of 17 beta-estradiol, 1 mg of estriol, and 1 mg of norethindrone acetate. Blood samples were taken before treatment and after 3 and 12 months of treatment. In serum lecithin, a decrease (p less than 0.01) in stearic acid concomitant with an increase of linoleic (p less than 0.05) and arachidonic (p less than 0.01) acids was recorded. The most evident changes noted in cholesterol ester were decreased levels of stearic (p less than 0.01), oleic (p less than 0.05), and arachidonic (p less than 0.001) acids. Polyunsaturated acids of the n-6 series are precursors for prostaglandins and leukotrienes. In the present study an increase of dihomo-gamma-linolenic, linoleic, and arachidonic acids in serum lecithin was found after treatment, and theoretically this finding may have an impact on the prostacyclin-thromboxane balance.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D002979:Climacteric; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004964:Estriol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D004958:Estradiol; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D004964:Estriol; D009640:Norethindrone