ABSTRACT
The beneficial effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease may be partly mediated by favourable changes in the phospholipid composition of high density lipoprotein (HDL) subclasses. In group A(oestrogen alone) HDL phosphatidylcholine increased (P<0.01), while 2 there was a decrease in HDL phosphaditylinositol (P<0.05) 2 and HDL phosphatidylethanolamine (P<0.01) compared with 2 controls (baseline). In the same group, HDL phosphatidylcholine 3 increased (P<0.01) and HDL phosphatidylethanolamine decreased (P<0.05). In group B (oestrogen plus progestogens), HDL phosphatidylcholine increased (P<0.001) while there were 2 decreases in HDL sphingomyelin (P<0.01), HDL 2 2 phosphatidylserine (P<0.05), HDL phosphatidylethanolamine 2 (P<0.01) and HDL diphosphatidylglycerol (P<0.05). In the 2 same group, an increase in HDL phosphatidylcholine (P<0.01) 3 and HDL phosphatidylserine (P<0.01) were observed, as well 3 as a decrease in HDL phosphatidylethanolamine (P<0.001). 3 The significance of these results is discussed.
