<b>Effects of oral and transdermal oestrogen replacement therapy on plasma levels of insulin‐like growth factors and IGF binding proteins 1 and 3: a cross‐over study</b>

Abstract

Treatment with oral hormone replacement therapy significantly suppresses plasma IGF-1 levels and increases plasma IGFBP-1 while transdermal treatment had no influence. This may be due to the route of administration, as plasma oestradiol levels showed little difference between the groups. The effect of oral oestrogens on IGFBP-1 seems to be attenuated by progestins.