Abstract
The relative fatty acid compositions of serum lecithin and cholesterol ester were studied during continuous treatment with an estrogen/progestogen combination. All 26 women who participated suffered from climacteric complaints and were given one tablet daily containing 2 mg of 17 β-estradiol, 1 mg of estriol, and 1 mg of norethindrone acetate. Blood samples were taken before treatment and after 3 and 12 months of treatment. In serum lecithin, a decrease (p < 0.01) in stearic acid concomitant with an increase of linoleic (p < 0.05) and arachidonic (p < 0.01) acids was recorded. The most evident changes noted in cholesterol ester were decreased levels of stearic (p < 0.01), oleic (p < 0.05), and arachidonic (p < 0.001) acids. Polyunsaturated acids of the n-6 series are precursors for prostaglandins and leukotrienes. In the present study an increase of dihomo-γ-linolenic, linoleic, and arachidonic acids in serum lecithin was found after treatment, and theoretically this finding may have an impact on the prostacyclin-thromboxane balance.
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