Acute effects of the use of estrogens in association with progestogens on postprandial triglyceridemia and vascular reactivity.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether hormone replacement therapy with estrogens in association with progestogens in postmenopausal hypertensive women alters postprandial triglyceridemia and vascular reactivity. METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was carried out with 15 postmenopausal women (age range: 50 to 70 years, mean = 61.6 +/- 6 years) randomly assigned to 2 weeks of placebo or oral ingestion of 0.625 mg of equine conjugated estrogens and 2.5 mg of medroxyprogesterone, fed a high-fat diet (897 calories; 50.1% fat). Vascular reactivity (VR - % of vessel diameter variation in the fasting period and 2 hours after meals) was measured by using the automated ultrasound method. Lipid profile and glycemia during the fasting period and 2 hours after a high-fat meal were measured. RESULTS: With placebo, vascular reactivity (VR) decreased from 3.20 +/- 17% during the fasting period to -2.1 +/- 30% 2 hours after the meal (P = 0.041). With the hormone replacement therapy, vascular reactivity decreased from 6.14 +/- 27% during the fasting period to - 0.05 +/- 18% 2 hours after the meal (P = NS). Postprandial triglyceridemia increased as follows: 35 +/- 25% with placebo; and 12 +/- 10% with hormone replacement therapy (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal hypertensive women, 2 weeks of hormone replacement with an association of estrogens and progestogens decreased hypertriglyceridemia after a high-fat meal, an effect that may reduce the endothelial dysfunction occurring in the postprandial period.