Iraqi Journal of Pharmacy

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of oral estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in healthy
postmenopausal women on lipid profile, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and
blood glucose; and on postmenopausal symptoms.
Subjects and Methods: This prospective cohort research was carried out over a period
of eight months, from Jun 2007 to February of 2008. Fifty six postmenopausal women
(mean SD age of 53.3±3 years; mean menopausal period, 5 years); previously diagnosed
by gynecologist were involved in this study. Thirty six postmenopausal women were
treated with oral conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) (premarin®) 0.625 mg daily for two
months. Twenty postmenopausal women were served as control and received daily dose
of placebo.
Results: In postmenopausal women treated with conjugated equine estrogen, serum total
cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were decreased
significantly as compared with placebo, while there was no significant change in the
serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-c). In both groups, estrogen
induced changes in plasma triglyceride and reduced the size of LDL particles. These
observations suggest that the plasma TG increase may reduce the size of LDL particle.
CEE lowered blood pressure, decreased fasting blood sugar and increased BMI of
postmenopausal women . Significant positive correlation was found between the BMI
and total blood cholesterol whereas significantly negative correlation was found between
the BMI and LDL of treated postmenopausal women. CEE effectively alleviated
bothersome symptoms of postmenopausal women such as hot flushes, night sweat and
vaginal dryness. Whereas, it has no detectable effects in attenuating bone pain.
Conclusion: CEE causes change in lipid profile, BMI, blood pressure and attenuates
bothersome symptoms in postmenopausal women.