Register for Effects of tibolone and estradiol on triglyceride levels compared
MenopauseAugust 19, 2004
2004 AUG 19 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers in Turkey compared changes in triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels after either tibolone or transdermal estrogen treatment in a group of postmenopausal women with high triglyceride levels and a group with normal levels.
"This prospective randomized study enrolled 140 postmenopausal women who had all been hysterectomized for almost a year or more. All subjects completed the 3-month follow-up. The 140 patients were divided into two groups: 70 were given transdermal 17beta-estradiol 0.05 mg/day, and 70 were given tibolone 2.5 mg/day," wrote R. Dansuk and colleagues.
"We compared the effects of tibolone and transdermal 17beta-estradiol on lipids and climacteric symptoms of the patients. To evaluate the effects of tibolone and transdermal estrogens on triglycerides and HDL cholesterol in postmenopausal women with normotriglyceridemia and hypertriglyceridemia, the women were assigned to five groups according to triglyceride levels (0-100, 101-200, 201-300, 301-400 and greater than or equal to 401 mg/dl). We compared changes in the triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels of each group after treatment. All 140 postmenopausal women completed the trial," the researchers said.
Baseline characteristics of the patients did not differ significantly.
"The tibolone group showed a 22.6% decrease whereas the transdermal estrogen group had a 10.9% decrease in the mean triglyceride levels after 3 months of treatment. The mean decrease of triglyceride level with transdermal estradiol was approximately 11% in normotriglyceridemic and hypertriglyceridemic postmenopausal women," Dansuk and team reported.
"The mean decrease of triglyceride level was 17% in the normotriglyceridemic group and 22-30% in the hypertriglyceridemic groups with tibolone. While the mean HDL cholesterol level increased in the transdermal estrogen group (3.6%), it decreased in the tibolone group (9.3%)," they said.
Although tibolone decreased triglyceride levels much more than did transdermal estradiol, the study authors noted, tibolone also decreased HDL cholesterol levels, whereas transdermal estradiol increased it.
Dansuk and colleagues concluded, "Tibolone had a more marked decreasing effect in postmenopausal women who had higher initial triglyceride levels. It is suggested that the beneficial effect of tibolone on the cardiovascular system might be greater in women with a high level of triglycerides."
Their study was published in Gynecological Endocrinology (Evaluation of the effect of tibolone and transdermal estradiol on triglyceride level in hypertriglyceridemic and normotriglyceridemic postmenopausal women. Gynecol Endocrinol, 2004;18(5):233-239).
For additional information, contact R. Dansuk, Sari Arsis Cad 5-B D, 10 Merdivenkoy, TR-81080 Istanbul, Turkey.
The publisher's contact information for the journal Gynecological Endocrinology is: Parthenon Publishing Group, Richmond House, White Cross, South Rd., Lancaster LA1 4XQ, England.
The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of Hormone Replacement Therapy, Cardiovascular Disease, and Women's Health. This article was prepared by Women's Health Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2004, Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net.
©Copyright 2004, Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net
