Hormonal replacement therapy duration and its antioxidative effect

Some effects of HRT may be caused by an antioxidative action of estrogens, which prevent cellular oxidative damage by diminishing the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI).

Aim of study: Evaluation of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) antioxidative effect in postmenopausal women in relation to the therapy duration.

Material and methods: Study group consists of 46 postmenopausal women. The mean age was 54.0±5.1 years. ROI generation was evaluated in 20 ml peripheral blood samples. Spontaneous ROI generation and generation after neutrophils activation with stimulators: formyl-metionyl-leucylphenyloalanin (fMLP), phorbol acetate (PMA) and zymosan was measured. As an enhancer of chemiluminescence luminol was used. Chemiluminescency associated with oxydation burst was measured with Luminometr 1251, BioOrbit, Turku, Finland in stable temperature during 30 minutes (15 readings). Measurements were performed before applying continuous estrogen-progestin hormonal replacement therapy, after 3 and 6 months of this therapy.

Results: ROI generation by neutrophils was lower in patients using HRT during 6 months than in the same women after 3 months on this therapy.

Conclusion: The longer the HRT duration, the lower the reactive oxygen intermediates’ generation.