Metabolic changes induced by peroral oestrogen and transdermal oestradiol gel therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate changes in plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels induced by peroral oestrogen replacement and transdermal oestradiol gel therapy.


METHODS
The effects of peroral oestradiol valerate tablets (2 mg) and placebo gel were compared with 1g transdermal oestradiol gel (1mg oestradiol) and placebo tablets in a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy study for 6 months.


METHODS
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu and Oulu Deaconess Institute, Oulu, Finland.


METHODS
Seventy-nine hysterectomised, postmenopausal women, 39 women in the peroral oestrogen group and 40 in the gel group.


METHODS
Cholesterol and triglycerides in total plasma and in various lipoprotein fractions, and sex hormones.


RESULTS
In the peroral oestrogen group total and LDL cholesterol were decreased and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were increased. In the oestradiol gel group plasma total, LDL and VLDL cholesterol and the ratio of LDL/HDL cholesterol were significantly decreased, but no change in HDL cholesterol and triglycerides was observed. Overall the decrease in LDL levels was correlated with the increase in oestrogen levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Both peroral and transdermal replacement therapy had beneficial effects on plasma lipids by lowering total and LDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio. These changes seem to be associated with changes in oestrogen levels.
Karjalainen
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.
Heikkinen
J
J
Savolainen
M J
MJ
Bäckström
A C
AC
Salinto
M
M
Kesäniemi
Y A
YA
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013607:Tablets; D016312:Treatment Refusal
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004967:Estrogens; D005782:Gels; D013607:Tablets; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone