Relationship between apolipoprotein E polymorphism, menopausal symptoms, and serum lipids during hormone replacement...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Cardiovascular Health
• Genetics

Background:

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used by menopausal women for symptom relief and prevention of osteoporosis and atherosclerotic disease.
• Apolipoprotein E (apo E) polymorphism is a genetic factor that may influence lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between apo E polymorphism and menopausal symptoms, body fat mass, and lipid profiles in postmenopausal women.
• To evaluate the impact of HRT on lipid profiles in relation to apo E phenotype.

Main Methods:

• Categorized 236 postmenopausal women into three apo E phenotype groups (E2, E3, E4).
• Assessed menopausal symptoms, body fat mass, and lipid profiles (including total cholesterol, LDL-C, apo B, and triglycerides) before and after 6 months of oral HRT in 172 women.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in menopausal symptoms were observed across apo E phenotype groups.
• Group E4 exhibited the highest levels of apo E, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and apo B, indicating a higher cardiovascular disease risk.
• Hormone replacement therapy significantly improved the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio in all groups, with the most substantial improvement seen in group E2.

Conclusions:

• Apo E phenotype is not linked to menopausal symptom severity.
• Group E4 individuals face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, while group E2 has the lowest risk.
• Oral HRT is a potentially beneficial treatment for women in group E4 to mitigate cardiovascular risk.