Metabolic changes induced by peroral oestrogen and transdermal oestradiol gel therapy.

Objective: To investigate changes in plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels induced by peroral oestrogen replacement and transdermal oestradiol gel therapy.

Design: The effects of peroral oestradiol valerate tablets (2 mg) and placebo gel were compared with 1g transdermal oestradiol gel (1mg oestradiol) and placebo tablets in a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy study for 6 months.

Setting: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu and Oulu Deaconess Institute, Oulu, Finland.

Population: Seventy-nine hysterectomised, postmenopausal women, 39 women in the peroral oestrogen group and 40 in the gel group.

Main Outcome Measures: Cholesterol and triglycerides in total plasma and in various lipoprotein fractions, and sex hormones.

Results: In the peroral oestrogen group total and LDL cholesterol were decreased and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were increased. In the oestradiol gel group plasma total, LDL and VLDL cholesterol and the ratio of LDL/HDL cholesterol were significantly decreased, but no change in HDL cholesterol and triglycerides was observed. Overall the decrease in LDL levels was correlated with the increase in oestrogen levels.

Conclusions: Both peroral and transdermal replacement therapy had beneficial effects on plasma lipids by lowering total and LDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio. These changes seem to be associated with changes in oestrogen levels.