Vascular and Metabolic Effects of Hormone Therapy Combined With L-Arginine in Postmenopausal Women
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2000-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Estrogen therapy has been associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease events in
observational studies of postmenopausal women. Although favorable effects of estrogen on
lipoprotein cholesterol levels probably account for much of this benefit, direct vascular
effects (vasomotor, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory) regulated by nitric oxide (NO) may also be
of importance. We have recently shown that vasodilator effects of estrogen in the coronary
circulation are due to enhanced bioactivity of NO released from the endothelium. Estrogen has
been shown to stimulate synthesis and activity of the enzyme NO synthase with enhanced NO
synthesis in endothelial cells in culture. Because L-arginine is the natural substrate for
the enzyme NO synthase, we propose that the combination of L-arginine and estrogen might have
additive vasomotor, hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effects in hypercholesterolemic
postmenopausal women.