Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The risk of cardiovascular disease significantly increases in women during postmenopausal period, and high blood homocysteine levels have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of folic acid supplementation on blood homocysteine levels and lipid profile in postmenopausal women under hormone replacement therapy.

METHODS

Forty postmenopausal women who were admitted to SSK Ege Maternity and Gynecology Training Hospital Menopause Outpatient Clinic between 01.09.2002-01.06.2003 were included in this study. 800 micrograms of folic acid and estradiol hemihydrate (2 mg / day) / norethisterone acetate (1 mg / day) were given for 12 weeks. Before and 12 weeks after treatment, serum homocysteine levels, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), urea, creatinine and fasting blood glucose levels were measured. Results were compared with student-t test.

RESULTS

When lipid profiles were compared before and 12 weeks after HRT and folic acid administration, HDL cholesterol levels significantly increased (48.85 ± 7.51 vs. 56.97 ± 7.59; p <0.01), but other parameters did not change. Initially, 25% of the participants (n = 8) had blood homocysteine levels above 15 micromol/liter. After folic acid replacement, homocysteine levels decreased in 31 (77.5%) of the participants and the mean decrease in homocysteine levels was 21.19% (13.92 ± 3.69 vs. 10.97 ± 2.71, p <0.01).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

In postmenopausal women, folic acid appears to be an effective, non-side-effect and inexpensive treatment that may lower the level of blood homocysteine.