The effect of hormone replacement therapy on vitamin E status in postmenopausal women.

Abstract

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is the most important dietary antioxidant found in lipids and cell membranes and its intake is inversely related to the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Oestrogen-containing oral contraceptives may decrease plasma vitamin E level in young women. We investigated if oestrogen-containing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may have the same effect on vitamin E status in postmenopausal women Eighteen healthy postmenopausal women took a combination of oestrogen/progestogen (Harmogen Provera) therapy and another ten acted as a control group. Blood samples were taken at baseline and repeated after 3 and 6 months in both groups. Vitamin E in plasma, red cells and isolated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was measured as alpha-tocopherol by high-performance liquid chromatography. Vitamin E status showed no change in either group after 3 and 6 months in comparison to its baseline value. Combined oestrogen/progestogen HRT for 6 months in healthy postmenopausal women did not alter vitamin E. status in vivo.