Effect of castration and long-term oral oestrogen therapy with oestriol succinate on serum lipids

The effects of continuous oestriol succinate therapy (2 mg/day) of three years' duration on serum cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids were investigated on 50 women with a mean age of 48 years. In addition, the effects of castration only were investigated in 10 women with a similar mean age. One month after castration the serum cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid levels were significantly raised (p less than 0.05). During oestriol succinate therapy the cholesterol level tended to decrease. In the control group without hormone therapy, the cholesterol level showed a tendency to rise during the three years. The serum triglyceride and phospholipid levels remained almost unchanged during the oestriol succinate therapy and differed not from corresponding values of the control group.