Effect of menopause and different combined estradiol-progestin regimens onbasal and growth hormone-releasing hormone-stimulated serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-1, and IGFBP-3 levels
A. Cano et al., Effect of menopause and different combined estradiol-progestin regimens onbasal and growth hormone-releasing hormone-stimulated serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-1, and IGFBP-3 levels, FERT STERIL, 71(2), 1999, pp. 261-267
Objective: To determine the effects of menopause and three different formul
ations of E-2 plus medroxyprogesterone acetate on serum concentrations of b
asal and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)stimulated growth hormone (
GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor bindi
ng protein (IGFBP)-1, IGFBP-3, insulin, and C peptide.
Design: Prospective, controlled trial.
Setting: Menopausal outpatient clinic at an academic tertiary care hospital
.
Patient(s): Nineteen postmenopausal women with different menopausal ages. S
eventeen premenopausal women were included as controls.
Intervention(s): Oral estrogen (E-2 valerate, 2 mg/d) or transdermal estrog
en (50-mu g or 100-mu g E-2 patch) was administered for 8 weeks. Medroxypro
gesterone acetate (5 mg/d) was administered during weeks 3, 4, 7, and 8 of
each protocol. Blood samples were collected before treatment and after the
completion of each protocol from postmenopausal women, and on cycle days 6-
8 from premenopausal women.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Levels of GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3, insulin, an
d C peptide.
Result(s): Basal GH levels were negatively correlated with age in premenopa
usal women but not in postmenopausal women. The area under the GHRH-induced
GH curve decreased in older postmenopausal women after the oral estrogen p
rotocol. Levels of IGF-1 diminished after the oral E-2 protocol in postmeno
pausal women.
Conclusion(s): The administration of oral, but not transdermal, E-2 plus me
droxyprogesterone acetate at the usual clinical doses used in postmenopausa
l women decreased IGF-1 levels and the response of GH to GHRH in older wome
n. No substantial changes were detected in IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3, insulin, or C
peptide levels. (Fertil Steril(R) 1999,71.261-7. (C) 1999 by American Socie
ty for Reproductive Medicine.).