Effect of hormone replacement therapy on total serum anti-oxidant potential and oxidized LDL/β2-glycoprotein I complexes in postmenopausal women

Endocr J. 2010;57(12):1029-34. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.k10e-239. Epub 2010 Oct 22.

Abstract

Oxidative stress and consequent oxidized lipoprotein production is thought to play a central role in both the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)/β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) complexes are etiologically important in the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether long-term treatment with conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women could affect total serum antioxidant capacity (TAC) and serum levels of oxLDL/β2GPI complexes. A total of 60 normolipidemic postmenopausal women treated with oral estrogen together with progestin therapy for 3 months were selected. TAC and serum levels of oxLDL/β2GPI complexes were measured at the beginning and end of the HRT. HRT led to a significant increase in TAC (15%, P=0.02) and a minor but statistically nonsignificant decrease of oxLDL/β2GPI complexes (3%, P=0.30) when compared with the baseline control levels. There was also no significant association between TAC and oxLDL/β2GPI complexes changes related to HRT. This study indicates that, HRT in postmenopausal women leads to an increase in TAC without an equivalent change in serum levels of oxLDL/β2GPI complexes. It is concluded that beneficial effects of HRT could be explained, at least in part, by improving antioxidant status, but may not be directly associated with a change in oxidized lipoprotein production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis*
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Estrogen Replacement Therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / blood*
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Postmenopause / blood*
  • Progestins / administration & dosage
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I / blood*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Progestins
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein