Menopausal hormone therapy reduces HDL-CEC and improves CV risk factors, find study

Seattle WA: Transdermal ERT abrogates an increase in serum HDL CEC which is noted during natural menopause, however, transdermal ERT leads to favorable changes in major CV risk factors, suggests a recent study in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology. 

Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is an in-vitro assay that measures the ability of an individual's HDL to promote cholesterol efflux from cholesterol donor cells such as macrophages. CEC of HDL is a predictor of cardiovascular risk independent of HDL-C levels.

In perimenopausal women, the cardiovascular (CV) safety of estrogen replacement therapy remains uncertain. It is known that exogenous estrogen increase HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) but the estrogen-mediated effects on alternative metrics of HDL that may better predict CV risk are unknown. Considering this, Katya B. Rubinow, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle WA, and colleagues determined the effects of transdermal ERT (estrogen replacement therapy) on HDL composition and cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), as well as the relationships between these metrics and CV risk factors.

For the purpose, the researchers analyzed fasting plasma samples from 101 healthy, perimenopausal women. They were randomized to receive either transdermal placebo or transdermal estradiol (100 μg/24 hr) with intermittent micronized progesterone. Serum HDL CEC, HDL particle concentration, HDL protein composition, insulin resistance and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were measured at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. 

"Natural menopause leads to an increase in serum HDL CEC, an effect that is abrogated by transdermal ERT. However, transdermal ERT leads to favorable changes in major CV risk factors," concluded the authors. 

The study, "Perimenopausal Transdermal Estradiol Replacement Reduces Serum HDL Cholesterol Efflux Capacity but Improves Cardiovascular Risk Factors," is published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacl.2020.11.009