Effects of hormone replacement therapy on glucose and lipid profiles and on cardiovascular risk parameters in postmenopausal women

Abstract

In response to 6 months of HRT, there was an increase in weight, BMI, and waist/hip ratio as known cardiovascular risk factors, but no significant impact on lipid profile and glucose metabolism could have been clearly demonstrated. A mixed effect profile of HRT on the state of inflammation (increase in CRP and homocysteine, decrease in fibrinogen) was observed.

Oral contraceptive plus antiandrogen therapy and cardiometabolic risk in polycystic ovary syndrome

“…In two studies performed in postmenopausal women and young healthy women respectively, the use of low-dose combined OCs has increased homocysteine levels. 39,40 EE-DRSP monotherapy for 6 months did not show an impact on homocysteine levels in lean and obese PCOS patients. 22 A study by Cagnacci et al investigated the treatment with EE-CA and found lower homocysteine levels, while EE-DSG had no effect on homocysteine level in the same study.…”

“…The influence of OCs on homocysteine levels has been investigated but the results are less conclusive than CRP studies. In two studies performed in postmenopausal women and young healthy women respectively, the use of low‐dose combined OCs has increased homocysteine levels . EE‐DRSP monotherapy for 6 months did not show an impact on homocysteine levels in lean and obese PCOS patients .…”

Prevention of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Postmenopausal Women Receiving Transdermal Hormonal Replacement Therapy

“…In many studies, favourable effect of long -term hormonal replacement therapy on angiotensin -converting enzyme activity and bradykinin in postmenopausal women was found [3,7,21]. The results of studies performed by many authors should be the inspiration to supplementation of transdermal HRT in the prophylaxis of cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women [4,11,13,19,21,28].…”

“…In postmenopausal women the increase of total cholesterol (T-CH), low density lipoprotein -cholesterol (LDL-CH), triglycerides (TG) and the decrease of high density lipoprotein -cholesterol (HDL-CH) was found [13]. Dyslipidemia is the risk factor of coronary heart disease development, whose incidence in women after 50. is still significantly lower, compared to men, but the prognosis is worse following the deficit of estrogens and the disturbances of hemostatic factors [3].…”

Hypertension in pregnancy is associated with elevated homocysteine levels later in life

“…The literature is conflicted as to whether the use of hormone replacement (estrogen alone, estrogen + progestin, oral or non-oral formulations all being pertinent variables) results in lower homocysteine levels or has no effect. 21-24 Whether statins and other cholesterol-lowering agents affect homocysteine levels is also controversial. 25 As their covariate effects are not known definitively, we adjusted for these potential confounders.…”