Hormone replacement influences homocysteine levels in the methionine-loading test: a randomized placebo controlled trial in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mechanism by which exogenous oestrogen influences the homocysteine metabolism in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
A randomized placebo controlled trial in which a methionine-loading test was performed, in 25 healthy postmenopausal women, before and after a 12-week oral treatment with placebo or daily 4 mg 17beta-estradiol with (HRT) or without (ERT) 10 mg dydrogesterone. Fasting and post-load homocysteine as well as Vitamins B(6), B(12) and folate were determined.


RESULTS
In both treatment groups a significant 12% decrease in fasting homocysteine was observed. This decrease was accompanied by a post-load homocysteine increase of more than 20%. Vitamin B(6) values were decreased by more than 25%.


CONCLUSIONS
The hormone therapy induced lowering of fasting homocysteine and Vitamin B(6) levels and an increase in post-load homocysteine, supporting the hypothesis that homocysteine-methionine metabolism is modulated by hormone therapy in postmenopausal women.
Project Aging Women, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute for Cardiovascular Research-Vrije Universiteit, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, Amsterdam 1007 MB, The Netherlands.
R G V
RG
Smolders
K
K
de Meer
P
P
Kenemans
T
T
Teerlink
C
C
Jakobs
M J
MJ
van der Mooren
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004394:Dydrogesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine; D004958:Estradiol; D004394:Dydrogesterone; D005492:Folic Acid; D008715:Methionine; D011736:Pyridoxine; D014805:Vitamin B 12