[Effect of hormone replacement therapy including a progestin on insulin sensitivity and lipid profile in postmenopausal women].
BACKGROUND
The cardiovascular protective properties of hormone replacement therapy can be hampered when a progestin is used.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of hormone replacement therapy with progestins on insulin sensitivity and lipid profile.


METHODS
Twelve healthy postmenopausal women aged 45 to 55 years old were studied. Blood lipids and insulin sensitivity, determined using the insulin tolerance test, were measured at baseline and after three months of hormone replacement therapy using conjugated estrogens, 0.625 mg/day and medroxyprogesterone acetate, 5 mg/day.


RESULTS
The glucose disappearance constant was higher after the treatment period than at baseline (5.3 +/- 0.8 and 4.7 +/- 0.8%/min respectively, p = 0.005). Serum LDL cholesterol was also lower at the end of treatment period (124.5 +/- 30.2 and 140 +/- 25.4 mg/dl respectively, p = 0.019).


CONCLUSIONS
In this group of postmenopausal women, a period of three months of hormone replacement therapy with a progestin improved insulin sensitivity and lowered LDL cholesterol levels.
Grover-Páez
F
F
Unidad de Investigación Médica en Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente, Guadalajara, México.
Martínez-Abundis
E
E
González-Ortiz
M
M
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D045167:Progesterone Congeners