Effect of low dose estrogen menopausal hormone therapy on nitric oxide and antioxidant activity

Lee, Eun Suk; Yang, Jung Sun; Lee, Gi Yong; Lee, Yu Il

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of low dose estrogen menopausal hormone therapy on cardiovascular system
METHODS
This study categorized 95 postmenopausal women between March 2004 and August 2004. Thirty patients of estrogen therapy group, fifteen patients of estrogen-progestin therapy group, fifteen patients of low-dose estrogen therapy group, and fifteen patients of low-dose estrogen-progestin therapy group were divided. Remaining 20 patients served as control group which did not receive the hormone treatment. The blood pressure, pulse rate, lipid profile, and NO metabolites and antioxidant activity of plasma and urine were measured.
RESULTS
Diastolic blood pressure was lower in hormone treatment group than control group's. Although it was not significant, the total cholestrol and LDL-cholestrol in the plasma of treatment group were lower than those of the control group while HDL-cholestrol were higher. Triglyceride in the plasma of treatment group was higher. Changes of blood pressure, pulse rate and lipid profile in low-dose group were similar to those of conventional standard dose. The plasma concentration of NO metabolites in treatment group was higher. Also, the plasma concentration of NO metabolites in low-dose group was similar to that of conventional dose.
CONCLUSION
A low-dose hormone therapy was expected to bring about the improvement of endothelial cell dependent vascular reactivity like conventional dose, resulting in the reduction of diastolic blood pressure, the improvement of lipid profile, and an increase in plasma concentration of the NO metabolites. A low-dose hormone therapy may thus presumably provide beneficial effects on cardiovascular system.