Objective: To investigate the mechanism by which exogenous oestrogen influences the homocysteine metabolism in postmenopausal women.
Study design: A randomized placebo controlled trial in which a methionine-loading test was performed, in 25 healthy postmenopausal women, before and after a 12-week oral treatment with placebo or daily 4 mg 17beta-estradiol with (HRT) or without (ERT) 10 mg dydrogesterone. Fasting and post-load homocysteine as well as Vitamins B(6), B(12) and folate were determined.
Results: In both treatment groups a significant 12% decrease in fasting homocysteine was observed. This decrease was accompanied by a post-load homocysteine increase of more than 20%. Vitamin B(6) values were decreased by more than 25%.
Conclusion: The hormone therapy induced lowering of fasting homocysteine and Vitamin B(6) levels and an increase in post-load homocysteine, supporting the hypothesis that homocysteine-methionine metabolism is modulated by hormone therapy in postmenopausal women.