Title
Tamoxifen and estrogen lower circulating lipoprotein(a) concentrations in healthy postmenopausal women
UMMS Affiliation
Information Services, Academic Computing Services; Department of Cell Biology; Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center
Date
10-1-1994
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Aged; Carrier Proteins; Cholesterol, LDL; Double-Blind Method; Estrogens; Female; Humans; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Lipoprotein(a); Middle Aged; Osmolar Concentration; Postmenopause; Reference Values; Somatomedins; Tamoxifen
Disciplines
Oncology | Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Abstract
Data in the literature suggest that circulating levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) respond similarly to therapy with growth hormone, estrogen, or tamoxifen. To more clearly document these relations, we designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of tamoxifen and continuous estrogen on circulating levels of Lp(a), IGF-I, and IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) in healthy postmenopausal women. Both estrogen and tamoxifen decreased serum levels of IGF-I to 30% below baseline during the 3 months of treatment, while IGFBP-3 levels were unchanged. Plasma Lp(a) levels decreased to 24% below baseline after 1 month of treatment with either estrogen or tamoxifen (P < .05 for estrogen only); after 3 months Lp(a) decreased to 34% below baseline with tamoxifen therapy (P < .05) but returned to only 16% below baseline with estrogen. The correlation between Lp(a) and IGF-I was highly significant (P < .0001). We conclude that (1) tamoxifen lowers plasma Lp(a) levels in healthy postmenopausal women, (2) the suppressive effects of tamoxifen and estrogen on circulating Lp(a) concentration diverge after the first month of therapy, and (3) circulating levels of Lp(a) and IGF-I are strongly correlated with each other, an indication that they may share regulatory influences.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Arterioscler Thromb. 1994 Oct;14(10):1586-93.
Related Resources
PubMed ID
7522547