Oestrogen and inhibition of oxidation of low-density lipoproteins in postmenopausal women

TLDR

Oxidative modification of low‑density lipoprotein (LDL) may be atherogenic. We measured LDL oxidation lag in 18 postmenopausal women before and after intraarterial 17 β‑oestradiol infusion, after 3 weeks of patch therapy in 12 women, and 1 month after discontinuation in 10. The lag increased from baseline after acute infusion (134 ± 41 to 167 ± 36 min, p = 0.01) and after the patch (132 ± 31 to 178 ± 45 min, p = 0.009), but returned to baseline after discontinuation, demonstrating an antioxidant effect of physiological 17 β‑oestradiol that may contribute to anti‑atherogenic action.

Abstract

Oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) may be atherogenic. We studied the time of onset of LDL oxidation (lag) in 18 postmenopausal women before and after intraarterial infusion of 17 beta-oestradiol, after 3 weeks' patch administration in 12 of these women, and 1 month after discontinuation in 10. The lag increased from baseline after acute infusion (from 134 [SD41] to 167 [36] min, p = 0.01) and after the patch (132 [31] to 178 [45] min, p = 0.009). After discontinuation of oestradiol, the lag returned to baseline. This study shows an antioxidant effect of physiological levels of 17 beta-oestradiol, which may contribute to an anti-atherogenic action.