ESTROGEN DEPRIVATION, RATHER THAN AGE, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POOR LIPID PROFILE AND CARBOHYDRATE-METABOLISM IN WOMEN

The protective effect of estrogen against cardiovascular diseases (CVD ) in women disappears after menopause. However, it is not clear whethe r the change in risk factors after menopause is related to aging or es trogen deprivation. Objective: To assess the risks for CVD and the con tribution of aging in estrogen-deprived women. Methods: Forty-one pati ents with premature ovarian failure (POF) (group 1) and 30 patients wi th natural menopause (group 2) were investigated with respect to well- known risk factors for CVD. Fifteen young women at reproductive age (g roup 3) were taken as controls. The median ages (ranges) of the groups were 31 (19-40), 52 (46-67) and 26 (24-29) years, respectively. Famil y and personal history for CVD, smoking, oral contraceptive usage, phy sical examination, blood pressure measurement. body mass index (BMI), blood level of fasting insulin, diabetes mellitus, and the levels of l ipoprotein proteins were;he examined parameters regarding the risks fo r CVD. Results: The levels of triglycerides and very low density lipop rotein (VLDL) cholesterol were not different in the 3 groups. The leve ls of fasting insulin (11.3 +/- 6.6 vs. 10.2 +/- 5.8 IU/ml), the ratio of fasting insulin to fasting blood glucose (12.2 +/- 6.3% vs. 10.5 /- 5.4%), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (51.9 +/- 12.9 vs . 51.6 +/- 9.7 mg/d), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (113 /- 47 vs. 127 +/- 37 mg/dl) and the ratio of HDL to total cholesterol (27.2 +/- 9.8% vs. 24.1 +/- 6.9%) were not different in women with POF and natural menopause. These parameters were all better in controls w ith respect to risk for CVD (respectively, 6.5 +/- 2.0 IU/ml, 7.4 +/- 2.2%, 37.9 +/- 5.3 mg/dl, 80 +/- 40 mg/dl, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Risk factors for CVD are related to estrogen deprivation. Aging does not h ave an important impact on CVD within the age range of this study grou p.