t : Maturitas 25 (1996) 107-114 JOURNAL OF THE CLIMACTERIC & POSMNOPAUSE Estrogen deprivation, rather than age, is responsible for the poor lipid profile and carbohydrate metabolism in women Selim Seniiz*, Basak Direm, Biilent Giilekli, Oya Giikmen Reproductive Endocrinology Department. Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women 5 Hospital, Ankara, Turke) Received 17 October 1995; revised 12 March 1996; accepted 4 June 1996 Abstract The protective effect of estrogen against cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in women disappears after menopause. However, it is not clear whether the change in risk factors after menopause is related to aging or estrogen deprivation. Objective: To assess the risks for CVD and the contribution of aging in estrogen-deprived women. Methods: Forty-one patients with premature ovarian failure (POF) (group 1) and 30 patients with natural menopause (group 2) were investigated with respect to well-known risk factors for CVD. Fifteen young women at reproductive age (group 3) were taken as controls. The median ages (ranges) of the groups were 31 (19-40), 52 (46-67) and 26 (24-29) years, respectively. Family and personal history for CVD, smoking, oral contraceptive usage, physical examination, blood pressure measurement, body mass index (BMI), blood level of fasting insulin, diabetes mellitus, and the levels of lipoprotein proteins were the examined parameters regarding the risks for CVD. Results: The levels of triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol were not different in the 3 groups. The levels of fasting insulin (11.3k6.6 vs. 10.2f5.8 W/ml), the ratio of fasting insulin to fasting blood glucose (12.2-&6.3X vs. 10.5+5.40/o), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (51.9 + 12.9 vs. 51.6 + 9.7 mg/d), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (113 f 47 vs. 127 + 37 mg/dl) and the ratio of HDL to total cholesterol (27.2 f 9.8% vs. 24.1 f 6.9%) were not different in women with POF and natural menopause. These parameters were all better in controls with respect to risk for CVD (respectively, 6.5 f 2.0 IU/ml, 7.4 + 2.2%, 37.9 f 5.3 mg/dl, 80 + 40 mg/dl. P < 0.05). Conclusion: Risk factors for CVD are related to estrogen deprivation. Aging does not have an important impact on CVD within the age range of this study group. 1. Introduction * Corresponding author, Tezel Sok. 4/2, Y. Ayranci 06550, Ankara, Turkey. Tel: 90-(312)-312 3509; Fax: 90-(312)-312 493 I : E-mail: ss06-k@servis2.net.tr In most industrialized countries, the largest sex differential for mortality is due to coronary heart 0378-5122/96/$15.00 0 1996 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All righthreserved PII SO378-5122(96)01051-l