Low-dose hormone therapy and carbohydrate metabolism.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence by two low doses of oral continuous-combined formulations of 17 beta-estradiol (E(2)) and norethisterone acetate (NETA) on carbohydrate metabolism in healthy postmenopausal women.


METHODS
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.


METHODS
Volunteers at a university hospital.


METHODS
One hundred twenty healthy postmenopausal women.


METHODS
One hundred twenty women were randomized to three treatment arms: (1) E(2) 1 mg/NETA 0.25 mg group (n = 40); (2) E(2) 1 mg/NETA 0.5 mg group (n = 40); (3) placebo group (n = 40). A total of 102 women completed 12 months of treatment. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months.


METHODS
Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, total area under the curve (AUC) and insulin/glucose index during OGTT.


RESULTS
Fasting levels of glucose and insulin declined significantly in the E(2)/NETA 0.5 mg group. At OGTT, the total AUC for insulin declined in both active arms. The curve for glucose increased significantly in the E(2)/NETA 0.25 mg group. A lower insulin/glucose index was observed during OGTT in both active regimens when compared with placebo. In the active treatment groups, a significant reduction of fasting glucose and/or fasting insulin was encountered in women with higher basal fasting levels (fasting glucose >4.2 mmol/L or log-fasting insulin >0.87).


CONCLUSIONS
Oral low-dose E(2) 1 mg/NETA 0.5 mg regimen did not impair carbohydrate metabolism, but seemed to improve insulin sensitivity in healthy postmenopausal women.
Li
Cairu
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lund University Hospital, Sweden.
Samsioe
Göran
G
Borgfeldt
Christer
C
Bendahl
Pär-Ola
PO
Wilawan
Kittisak
K
Aberg
Anders
A
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D010919:Placebos; D004958:Estradiol; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D009640:Norethindrone