Abstract:

Introduction: To evaluate the effects of tibolone and conventional hormone therapy on insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism in healthy postmenopausal women. Materials and Method: The study included 85 normoinsulinemic healthy postmenopausal Turkish women. The participants were assigned to one of three groups: 26 women received 0.625 mg of CEE+ MPA daily, 32 received 2.5 mg of tibolone daily, and 27 had no treatment and served as a control group. Before and after 12 weeks of treatment, glucose metabolism, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and lipid metabolism parameters were compared. Results: CEE/MPA treatment significantly decreased fasting glucose levels, fasting insulin levels, 2 h glucose levels, 2 h insulin levels, and HOMA-IR and LDL levels while increasing triglyceride and HDL levels (p<0.01). Tibolone treatment decreased fasting insulin, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL levels significantly, however it increased fasting glucose, 2-h glucose and 2-h insulin levels (p<0.01). The glucose and lipid parameters of the control group deteriorated at the end of the follow-up period. Conclusion: CEE/MPA improves glucose and lipid metabolism in healthy postmenopausal women. Although less pronounced, tibolone also has favorable effects on these parameters.

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