Ultra low-dose hormone replacement therapy and bone protection in postmenopausal women

Abstract Objectives The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of low doses of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in normal young postmenopausal women. Methods In an open trial healthy, non-obese postmenopausal women received for 2 years a low-dose continuous combined HRT (LD-HRT) containing 1 mg estradiol + 0.5 mg norethisterone acetate each pill for 28 days, or 0.5 mg of 17β-estradiol and 0.25 mg of norethisterone acetate (Ultra low dose, Ultra-LD-HRT) along with 1000 mg of calcium per day. Control group consisted of women receiving only 1000 mg of calcium per day, for 2 years. Menopausal symptoms were evaluated by the Green climacteric scale for the first 12 weeks of the study while bleeding profiles, bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover were assessed for 24 months. Results LD-HRT and Ultra-LD-HRT were effective in reducing menopausal clinical symptoms. In the control group, BMD significantly ( P P P P Conclusions LD-HRT and Ultra-LD-HRT can alleviate subjective symptoms providing an effective protection against the postmenopausal decrease of BMD.