Objective: To obtain data on the relation between age, menopause and homocysteine levels in women around menopause, we collected data for a sample of about 500 women attending a menopause clinic in Milan, Italy.Study design: Eligible for the study were all women aged 45-75 years, never HRT users consecutively observed for the first time at the Menopause Center of the 1st Obstetric Gynecological Clinic of the University of Milan. Fasting blood samples for total homocysteine plasma levels were collected during the visit. Of the 490 study subjects, 107 were pre-menopausal and 383 post-menopausal.Results: In the total series, the mean homocysteine level was 8.3 mu mol/L (S.D. 3.7, range 3.2-48.8). The values increased from 7.8 mu mol/L in women aged < 47 years to 9.0 mu mol/L in those aged > 59. Among pre-menopausal women the mean homocysteine level was 7.7 mu mol/L compared to 8.3 mu mol/L in post-menopausal women: this difference disappeared on the adjusted values. In post-menopausal women only, no clear relationship emerged between years since menopause and homocysteine levels.Conclusion: In our population, age, and not menopausal status, was the main determinant of homocysteine levels in women around menopause. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objective: Aim of this randomized trial was evaluate the effect on homocysteine plasma levels of two different hormone replacement therapy (HRT) formulations in a group of late postmenopausal women. Methods: Eligible for this study were women: in postmenopause since 5 years or more (confirmed from FSH level greater than or equal to40 mIU/I); with body mass index (BMI) less than or equal to35; without endocrine, hepatic or renal diseases; not current users of vitamin B or folic acid supplements; not users of any lipid-lowering drugs and sex steroids in the 6 months before trial entry. Group A: oral estradiol valerate 2 mg per day per oral normegestrol acetate 2.5 mg per day (n = 98) for 12 months; Group B: a weekly patch releasing estradiol (50 mug per day) per oral normegestrol acetate 2.5 mg per day (n = 10 1) for 12 months. Results: The mean values of the homocysteine levels in the group A and B at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months were 7.9 and 9.1, 8.7 and 8.9, 9.3 and 10.2, 9.6 and 10.2, respectively, the differences between the two treatments were not statistically significant (time by treatment interaction, P = 0.32). Otherwise, the changes of homocysteine level at the four visits was statistically significant (P = 0.0001) in both groups. In particular, in the oral treatment group homocysteine levels increased from baseline of 10.5% at 3 months, of 17.2% after 6 months of therapy and of 21.9% at the end of the study; in the transdermal group, after a little decrease at 3 months (1.5%), the increases were of 12.1 and 12.9%, respectively. Conclusions: This study does not show any different effect of oral and transdermal treatment with estradiol plus normegestrol acetate on homocysteine levels. Further it does not support previous suggestion of a lowering effect of HRT on plasma homocysteine. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sideri, M; Spinaci, L; Schettino, F; Mezzetti, M; Robertson, C; Spolti, N; Pace, R Di; Crosignani, P G Author Information