The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects on hormonal milieu of 1-year therapy with 10 mg/day oral dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or 50 microg transdermal estradiol plus 100 mg/day oral micronized progesterone in a group of 20 healthy postmenopausal women (age=50-58 and years since menopause (ysm)=1-6) and also the effects observed by combining these two therapies in a group of 12 postmenopausal women (age=54-61 and ysm=6-10) characterized by lower baseline DHEA and DHEAS levels (<2.40 and <0.55 microg/ml, respectively). DHEA produced a significant rise in androgens levels, whereas HRT did not. Moreover, DHEA alone induced a significantly lower increase in estrogens and beta-endorphin levels and a higher decrease in cortisol levels than HRT. DHEA and HRT also produced a significant similar increase in allopregnanolone levels. DHEA plus HRT induced a significantly higher increase in testosterone and estradiol and a lower increase in allopregnanolone and beta-endorphin levels and a significantly lower decrease in cortisol levels than HRT alone treated group. A similar increase was observed in progesterone and SHBG levels in all groups. These results suggest that 10-mg DHEA seems to be the proper dose to replace androgen deficiency in subjects with reduced Delta-5 androgens plasma levels. However, the aging process and the number of years since menopause may further modulate the effects of hormone therapy on hormonal milieu.
One-year therapy with 10mg/day DHEA alone or in combination with HRT in postmenopausal women: effects on hormonal milieu
LUISI S;GENAZZANI, ANDREA;
2008-01-01
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects on hormonal milieu of 1-year therapy with 10 mg/day oral dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or 50 microg transdermal estradiol plus 100 mg/day oral micronized progesterone in a group of 20 healthy postmenopausal women (age=50-58 and years since menopause (ysm)=1-6) and also the effects observed by combining these two therapies in a group of 12 postmenopausal women (age=54-61 and ysm=6-10) characterized by lower baseline DHEA and DHEAS levels (<2.40 and <0.55 microg/ml, respectively). DHEA produced a significant rise in androgens levels, whereas HRT did not. Moreover, DHEA alone induced a significantly lower increase in estrogens and beta-endorphin levels and a higher decrease in cortisol levels than HRT. DHEA and HRT also produced a significant similar increase in allopregnanolone levels. DHEA plus HRT induced a significantly higher increase in testosterone and estradiol and a lower increase in allopregnanolone and beta-endorphin levels and a significantly lower decrease in cortisol levels than HRT alone treated group. A similar increase was observed in progesterone and SHBG levels in all groups. These results suggest that 10-mg DHEA seems to be the proper dose to replace androgen deficiency in subjects with reduced Delta-5 androgens plasma levels. However, the aging process and the number of years since menopause may further modulate the effects of hormone therapy on hormonal milieu.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
