Effect of Estrogen-Progestin Replacement Therapy on Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Serum levels of cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), both apolipoproteins A₁ and B (Apo A₁, Apo B), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E₂), progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and steroid hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in postmenopausal women, before and after four different estrogen-progestin replacement therapies. Each woman was her own control to avoid genetic or socioeconomic differences. Our results showed that serum E₂ and TG significantly increased and serum FSH, LH, LDH, Apo B, and Chol significantly decreased after all treatments. Serum P and T did not significantly change after any of the treatments. HDL, Apo A₁ and SHBG significantly increased in the groups treated with medroxiprogesterone acetate (MPA) but not in the group treated with Norgestrel. We conclude that estrogen-progestin replacement therapy in postmenopausal women leads to profound and beneficial changes in plasma lipids and lipoproteins and that treatments with cyclic or continuous MPA could provide greater protection against coronary heart disease (CHD).