Effects of menopause and tibolone on different cardiovascular biomarkers in healthy women

Abstract

Background and aim. The effects of tibolone on cardiovascular risk is not yet fully understood today. We designed this study to assess the effect of the menopausal status and tibolone treatment (2.5 mg/day for 3 months) on different biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in healthy women.

Methods. Blood arterial pressure were measured, and blood samples collected for glucose, lipid profile (total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins, HDL, low density lipoproteins, and triglycerides), inflammatory (C-reactive protein, Interleukin-6, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α, TNFα) and oxidative stress (hydroperoxides and antioxidant capacity) evaluation in 15 premenopausal (mean age: 30 ± 4 years) and 15 postmenopausal (mean age: 52 ± 3, mean time from menopause 1.4 ± 0.4 years) women before and after tibolone treatment.

Results. The menopausal status is associated with increased systolic and diastolic pressure (p < 0.05), higher IL-6 (p < 0.05) and TNFα (p < 0.01), and lower antioxidants (p < 0.01). However, blood pressure (p < 0.05), glucose (p < 0.05), TNFα (p < 0.05) and HDL (p < 0.05) fell after tibolone, which did not significantly affect levels of the other biochemical parameters.

Conclusions. As menopause is associated with increased blood pressure, inflammation and oxidative stress, tibolone restores blood pressure and has beneficial effect on inflammation and glycemia without worsening oxidative stress, although it also reduces HDL levels. Such modifications should be taken into account when tailoring menopausal therapies to specific requirements of each woman.

Keywords:

• Menopause
• tibolone
• hormone replacement therapy
• vasoactive factors
• cardiovascular risk

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.