Serum hormones and lipoproteins in benign breast disease

Seventeen young women with clinically confirmed mammary dysplasia and six age-matched controls were treated with alpha-tocopherol. Serum samples collected during the luteal phase of each woman at monthly intervals for the 4-month duration of the study were analyzed for serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin concentrations by radioimmunoassay and for lipoprotein levels by a combination of precipitation, ultracentrifugation, and enzymatic techniques. Fifteen patients showed objective and subjective remission from disease. While prolactin levels did not change significantly, elevated levels of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones were decreased to normal levels. Ratios of serum cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased; high-density lipoprotein and free cholesterol associated with low-density lipoproteins increased as a result of therapy. The results suggest that alpha-tocopherol may serve as an effective agent not only to treat patients with benign breast disease but also to normalize abnormal hormone and lipid levels in subjects at high risk for breast cancer.