ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF SPECIFIC ESTROGENS ON LIPID-PEROXIDATION

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in postmeno pause. Estrogen administration in postmenopause lowers the risk of CHD by 50%. A variety of estrogen preparations are currently used in post menopausal hormone replacement therapy. It is unknown, however, if str uctural differences in the estrogen molecule influence the cardioprote ctive effects of estrogens. In this communication we have shown that e quine estrogens (especially equilin) exhibit higher antioxidant potenc y (as measured by fatty acids and sterols oxidation) when compared to estrone and estradiol-17beta.