Lipid and Carbohydrate Metabolism in Premenopausal Women Given Subdermal Estradiol Implants

Abstract

Fifteen premenopausal women were studied before and 6 weeks after receiving subcutaneous implants of 100 mg estradiol. Serum estradiol levels doubled; increases were also seen in fasting serum total cholesterol and in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). This increase was confined to the HDL2 subfraction, and was not reflected in the HDL apolipoproteins. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were unchanged, as were those of apolipoprotein B, the major protein component of LDL. Carbohydrate metabolism was assessed in a subgroup of 12 women. Estrogen implantation reduced fasting plasma glucose levels but did not alter the plasma glucose response to an oral glucose tolerance test. Plasma insulin levels were unchanged both in the fasted state and during the glucose tolerance test. Our findings indicate that parenteral administration of estradiol can alter lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in premenopausal women.

Relationship between serum estrogen levels and blood stasis syndrome in postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease

“…1 , 2 The incidence of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged women is lower than middle-aged men, but the morbidity of postmenopausal women has gradually increased, and the incidence of 65 to 70 years old female is equal to male. 3 Because estrogen can protect the vascular endothelial cells, 4 inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation, 5 reduce blood fat, 6 , 7 and help prevent clotting. 8 The decline of estrogen is one of the important reasons which leads to coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women.…”