Relationship between estrogen receptor thymine-adenine repeat polymorphism and effects of hormone replacement therapy on serum lipid and bone density in postmenopausal women / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Several biologically plausible mechanisms have been proposed for estrogen-associated changes in lipid and bone metabolism. These effects are thought to be mediated via estrogen receptor (ER). Several polymorphisms in the gene encoding estrogen receptor alpha may modify the effects of hormone replacement therapy on lipid and bone density in postmenopausal women. METHODS: We examined 284 postmenopausal women for thymine-adenine (TA) repeat polymorphism at the ER gene locus and its relationship to lipid and bone density. Their mean age was 52.2+/-5.0 years. We also investigated the association between ER TA repeat polymorphism and changes in lipid and bone density after 3 months and 1 year of hormone replacement therapy. RESULTS: According to the mean number of TA repeats, the women were divided into two groups group H, with higher number of repeats (TA>16)(n=110); group L, with lower number of repeats (TALDL cholesterol levels after 3 month hormone replacement therapy than in group H (changes in total cholesterol -8.4+/-11.3% vs. -4.2+/-12.5%, p=0.019), (changes in LDL cholesterol -18.7+/-18.4% vs -8.8+/-30.1%, p=0.006). There was no significant relationship between TA repeat polymorphism and changes in HDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels and bone density after 1 year hormone replacement therapy.

CONCLUSION:

These data suggest that ER TA repeat polymorphism may be one of the predictors of lipid response to hormone replacement therapy.