Influence of six months’ transdermal 17β -oestradiol administration combined with oral medroxyprogesterone or oral simvastatin treatment on glycaemia and insulinaemia in postmenopausal women with normal and impaired glucose tolerance

Aim of study: Comparison between influence of transdermal continuous 17β-oestradiol combined with oral medroxyprogesterone (HRT) and oral simvastatin treatment on glycaemia and insulinaemia in postmenopausal women with normal and impaired glucose tolerance.
Materials and methods: 68 postmenopausal women were allocated to six groups. Groups A, B and C consisted of women with normal glucose tolerance, while groups D, E and F had women with impaired glucose tolerance. Group A 17 patients, group D 11 patients. Both groups received HRT. Groups B (10 women) and E (10 women) received simvastatin 20 mg orally. Groups C (10 women) and F (10 women) were controls.
Results: Basic fasting FSH, oestradiol, DHEAS, SHBG insulin and plasma levels were assessed as well as glucose and insulin during OGTT. HRT increased plasma insulin levels in women with normal glucose tolerance and had no such effect in women with IGT. Simvastatin had no effect on plasma insulin and glucose levels in postmenopausal women with normal glucose tolerance and reduced fasting insulin level in women with IGT.