Abstract
Estrogen provides beneficial effects on hyperlipidemia in climacteric and elderly women. In this study of 68 women (37 to 67 years old), hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL), lipoprotein lipase (LpL) serum lipids and apolipoproteins were analyzed to investigate the effects of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). After menopause, LpL, total choresterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B increased. But ERT suppressed total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and especially apolipoprotein E in menopausal women. The mechanism was thought that ERT significantly suppressed HTGL, but LpL was not affected. Estrogen also increases hepatic LDL receptors and accelerates transfer of serum LDL-C (and TC). It was said that HTGL accelerates conversion of intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) to LDL. The suppression of HTGL by the ERT may decrease conversion of IDL to LDL and lower LDL-C (and TC). These estrogen's beneficial effects on lipids, may prevent the atherosclerosis. In addition, apolipoprotein E increases senile plaques in senile dementia-Alzheimer's type. The decrease in apolipoprotein E with ERT may be related to cognitive functions of elderly women.
