This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 90/4/2218    most recent Author Manuscript (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Smolders, R. G. V. Articles by van der Mooren, M. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Smolders, R. G. V. Articles by van der Mooren, M. J. Related Collections Female Endocrinology Metabolism

Oral Estradiol Decreases Plasma Homocysteine, Vitamin B₆, and Albumin in Postmenopausal Women But Does Not Change the Whole-Body Homocysteine Remethylation and Transmethylation Flux

Project Aging Women, Institute for Cardiovascular Research-Vrije Universiteit, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.G.V.S., P.K., M.J.v.d.M.) and Clinical Chemistry (K.d.M., C.J., W.K.), Vrije Universiteit University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: M. J. van der Mooren, M.D., Ph.D., Vrije Universiteit University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: mj.vandermooren{at}vumc.nl.

Estrogens, both endogenous and exogenous, lower the fasting levels of the independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease homocysteine. The mechanism behind this observation remains unclear.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 25 postmenopausal women with a screening homocysteine concentration above 10 µmol/liter were included. We investigated the influence on homocysteine levels of a 3-month treatment with a daily oral dose of 4 mg 17ß-estradiol (ET) or 4 mg ET combined with 10 mg dydrogesterone (EPT); the comparison group received placebo treatment. We performed primed continuous infusions of L-[²H₃-methyl-¹³C]methionine to assess steady-state flux rates of transmethylation, remethylation, and transsulfuration. Homocysteine concentration relationships with S-adenosylmethionine, S-adenosylhomocysteine, creatinine, albumin, vitamins B₆ and B₁₂, and folate status were determined as well. The mean change from baseline in homocysteine concentration by both treatments compared with placebo (ET, –13%; EPT, –10%) was accompanied by a decrease in the concentration of vitamin B₆ (ET, –25%; EPT, –38%) and albumin (ET, –7%; EPT, –11%). No significant changes in flux rates were observed. In a multivariate analysis, changes in homocysteine concentration were related to changes in albumin concentration. No relation to other variables was observed.

We conclude that the ET- and EPT-induced homocysteine changes in this study were not accompanied by a significant change in methionine-homocysteine flux rates and hypothesize that an estrogen-induced lowering of homocysteine levels is primarily part of a change in albumin metabolism.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Toth, C. K. Sites, and D. E. Matthews Role of ovarian hormones in the regulation of protein metabolism in women: effects of menopausal status and hormone replacement therapy Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, September 1, 2006; 291(3): E639 - E646. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Hemelaar, P. Kenemans, C.G. Schalkwijk, D.D.M. Braat, and M.J. van der Mooren No increase in C-reactive protein levels during intranasal compared to oral hormone therapy in healthy post-menopausal women Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2006; 21(6): 1635 - 1642. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]