Comparison of two forms of continuous combined hormone replacement therapy with respect to metabolic effects

• Published in: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 275; no. 5; pp. 335 - 339
• Main Authors: Tugrul, Semih, Yildirim, Gazi, Pekin, Oya, Uslu, Hüsamettin, Kutlu, Tayfun, Eren, Sadiye
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Springer Nature B.V 01-05-2007
• Subjects: Adult; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Contraceptive Agents, Female - therapeutic use; Estradiol - therapeutic use; Estrogen Replacement Therapy - methods; Estrogens - therapeutic use; Female; Hormone replacement therapy; Humans; Lipoproteins - blood; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate - therapeutic use; Menopause; Metabolism; Middle Aged; Norethindrone - analogs & derivatives; Norethindrone - therapeutic use; Prospective Studies; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood
• ISSN: 0932-0067; 1432-0711
• DOI: 10.1007/s00404-006-0265-5

To compare the metabolic effects of two frequently used continuous hormone replacement therapies.
Two hundred and forty-six menopausal women, aged between 41 and 57 years were enrolled in the present study. They were randomized to receive either estrogen + 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (CEE/MPA) or 1 mg 17 estradiol + 0.5 mg norethindrone acetate (E2/NETA). Women in group I (n = 139) and group II (n = 107) were followed up for 1 year and compared with respect to total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, VLDL, weight gain during this period.
The basal and 12th month weight of the patients of two groups were not statistically different (P = 0.57 and P = 0.17, respectively, in the groups I and II). No changes were detected in the levels of triglycerides, HDL and VLDL, while total cholesterol (P = 0.01) and LDL (P = 0.003) levels significantly decreased in the CEE/MPA group. In group 2, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels showed no significant change, however, levels of HDL cholesterol (P = 0.001) increased and LDL (P = 0.001) and VLDL cholesterol (P = 0.006) decreased significantly.
Administration of E2/NETA regimen has better results on lipid profile when compared to CEE/MPA regimen. No weight gain is recorded in E2/NETA group.