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The effects of hormone replacement therapy on plasma vitamin E levels in post-menopausal women
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Trinity College Centre for the Health Sciences, Coombe Women's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Objective:
To measure vitamin E levels in post-menopausal women before and after HRT, compared with levels in premenopausal women.
Design:
Post-menopausal women (n = 21) had plasma vitamin E levels measured before treatment and after 6 and 12 months treatment with HRT (2 mg 17-beta-oestradiol and 1 mg norethisterone acetate). The pre-menopausal group (n = 20) had plasma vitamin E levels measured at day 15-18 of the menstrual cycle.
Results:
There was no significant difference in vitamin E levels between the pre-menopausal group and the post-menopausal group. Plasma vitamin E levels were not significantly altered by 12 months HRT.
Conclusion:
Post-menopausal women did not have altered levels of vitamin E compared with pre-menopausal women. Similarly HRT has no effect on plasma vitamin E levels. We conclude therefore that HRT does not reduce vitamin E levels in a similar manner to oral contraceptives and consequently post-menopausal women are unlikely to need a vitamin E supplement.