Effects of oral continuous 17beta-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate replacement therapy on abdominal subcutaneous fat, serum leptin levels and body composition.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of oral continuous 17beta-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate (E2/NETA) replacement therapy on abdominal subcutaneous fat, serum leptin level (SLL) and body composition in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
A 6-month, prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study was conducted. Forty-three healthy naturally postmenopausal women aged 43-65 years were randomly assigned to receive E2/NETA (2 mg E2 plus 1 mg NETA, n = 22) or placebo (n = 21). Fasting SLL by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, subcutaneous abdominal fat thickness (STh) by ultrasound and the anthropometric indices of body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference (WC, HC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were recorded at the beginning and the end of the study.


RESULTS
After 6 months of therapy, BW and SLL increased in the placebo group (p = 0.043 and 0.033, respectively). WC, HC and STh decreased significantly in the E2/NETA group (p = 0.002, 0.006 and 0.000, respectively) and they were also significantly lower in women receiving E2/NETA than in women taking placebo (p = 0.000, 0.034 and 0.000, respectively). At baseline, SLL and STh were positively correlated with all anthropometric indices except WHR.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral continuous combined regimen of E2/NETA significantly reduced central fat accumulation as assessed by WC and STh, and attenuated the increase in SLL. The observed changes in SLL were highly and positively related to changes in STh. The oral continuous combined E2/NETA regimen appears to have protective effects on cardiovascular function and probably on metabolic diseases by its slimming effect upon WC in postmenopausal women.
Yüksel
Hasan
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey. hyuksel@adu.edu.tr
Odabaşi
Ali Riza
AR
Demircan
Selda
S
Karul
Aslihan
A
Kozaci
Leyla Didem
LD
Köseoğlu
Kutsi
K
Kizilkaya
Kadir
K
Başak
Okay
O
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010919:Placebos / Q000494:pharmacology; D017698:Postmenopause; D050507:Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal / Q000187:drug effects*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D020738:Leptin; D010919:Placebos; D004958:Estradiol; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D009640:Norethindrone