Intranasal 17beta-estradiol treatment and Vitamin B12, folate and homocysteine in menopause.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the effect of intranasal administration of 17beta-estradiol (Aerodiol) on plasma levels of homocysteine, Vitamin B12 and folate in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
In all, 26 symptomatic postmenopausal women who had undergone hysterectomy and oophorectomy at least 12 months previously participated in this 6-month randomized prospective clinical study. Menopause was determined by serum FSH level >30 microIU/ml and serum estradiol concentration <30 pg/ml. Intranasal 17beta-estradiol treatment was given once daily at a standard daily dose of 300 microg to 16 women, and 10 did not receive any treatment.


RESULTS
In the group receiving intranasal 17beta-estradiol, mean (+/-S.D.) plasma homocysteine level decreased significantly from pre-treatment values (from 16.68+/-4.33 to 14.15+/-1.18 nmol/ml, p=0.029) and the mean folate level increased (from 4.11+/-0.80 to 5.64+/-1.87 ng/ml, p=0.012). Vitamin B12 levels showed a tendency towards increasing. In the treated group, significant negative correlations were observed between homocysteine and folate values (r=-0.586, p=0.017) and between homocysteine and Vitamin B12 values (r=-0.672, p=0.004). No significant changes were observed in the untreated group.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduction in plasma homocysteine levels observed after 6 months' treatment with intranasal 17beta-estradiol may reflect an alteration in folate and Vitamin B12 homeostasis.
Harma
Muge
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Harran, Medical School, Sanliurfa, Turkey. mugeharma@superonline.com
Harma
Mehmet
M
Kocyigit
Abdurrahim
A
Yaltali
Tuba
T
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D006710:Homocysteine; D004958:Estradiol; D005492:Folic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D014805:Vitamin B 12