[Lipid profile modifications in post-menopausal women treated with testosterone gel]

To assess lipid profile changes in post-menopausal women treated with testosterone gel.

Thirty-six oophorectomized women on estradiol treatment who received transdermal testosterone gel (5mg daily) were enrolled into our study. Cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density-lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and lipoprotein (a) were tested before and after 6 months of treatment.

Selected participants had a mean age of 50.9±4.6 years and a body mass index of 30.1±3.8 kg/m(2). Significantly decreased cholesterol levels were found after 6 months of treatment (204.5±35.1 mg/dL before treatment as compared to 183.1±21.9 mg/dL after treatment; p<0.05). A significant reduction was also seen in LDL-C levels after 6 months of treatment with testosterone gel as compared to baseline (130.9±29.7 mg/dL versus 118.5±21.3 mg/dL; p<0.05). No differences were found in triglyceride, HDL-C, VLDL-C, and lipoprotein (a) levels (p=ns).

El gel de testosterona, asociado a tratamiento estrogénico en mujeres ooforectomizadas, produce disminución de las concentraciones de colesterol y LDL-C posterior a 6 meses de tratamiento, sin afectar las concentraciones de triglicéridos, HDL-C, VLDL-C y lipoproteína (a)Testosterone gel, associated to estrogen treatment in oophorectomized women, decreased cholesterol and LDL-C levels after 6 months of treatment, without affecting serum triglyceride, HDL-C, VLDL-C, and lipoprotein (a) levels.