Effect of estrogen-progestin replacement therapy on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women

Serum levels of cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipopro tein cholesterol (LDL) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), both apo lipoproteins A(1) and B (Apo A(1), Apo B), follicle-stimulating hormone (FS H) luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E-2), progesterone (P), testosteron e (T) and steroid hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in postmeno pausal women, before and after four different estrogen-progestin replacemen t therapies. Each woman was her own control to avoid genetic or socioeconom ic differences. Our results showed that serum E-2 and TG significantly incr eased and serum FSH, LH, LDH, Apo B, and Chol significantly decreased after all treatments. Serum P and T did not significantly change after any of th e treatments. HDL, Apo A(1) and SHBG significantly increased in the groups treated with medroxiprogesterone acetate (MPA) but not in the group treated with Norgestrel. We conclude that estrogen-progestin replacement therapy i n postmenopausal women leads to profound and beneficial changes in plasma l ipids and lipoproteins and that treatments with cyclic or continuous MPA co uld provide greater protection against coronary heart disease (CHD).