Lipoproteins during oral and cutaneous administration of oestradiol-17β to menopausal women

Abstract

Post-menopausal women were randomly allocated to substitution treatment with eiter estradiol-17.beta. orally (2-4 mg) or cutaneously (3 mg). The concentrations of cholesterol (C), triglycerides (TG) and phospholipids were determined in the high density lipoprotein (HDL)-, the low density lipoprotein (LDL)- and the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-fractions twice before medication and after 2, 4 and 6 mo. of treatment. Both treatments gave satisfactory clinical results. Oral doses increased the HDL and decreased the LDL raising the HDL-D/LDL-C ratio. The higher oral dose also increased the TG concentration. Cutaneous estradiol gave only minimal changes of the lipoproteins. The lipoprotein changes observed during treatment with oral estradiol might reduce the risk for atherosclerotic disease. Therefore from a lipoprotein point of view, oral estradiol treatment probably could be considered beneficial. The cutaneous estradiol treatment had comparable clinical effects without any influence on the lipoprotein pattern.