PURPOSE: to evaluate the effects of raloxifene on plasma homocysteine concentration and lipid profile in postmenopausal women. METHODS: twenty-four healthy postmenopausal women, aged 50 to 70 years, with osteopenia and/or osteoporosis, were submitted to raloxifene therapy, 60 mg/day, for six months. Plasma homocysteine concentration was determined before and after three and six months of therapy, as well as total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Plasma homocysteine was measured by a polarized immunofluorescence assay and serum lipids by the enzymatic and colorimetric method. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA, Newman-Keuls test and Pearson's correlation test. RESULTS: a significant decrease in total cholesterol of 15.3% (227.6±56.3 vs 200.6±29.8 vs 192.8±32.1 mg/dl; p<0.001) and LDL-cholesterol of 21.4% (151.4±46.3 vs 122.7±29.4 vs 119.0±28.6 mg/dl; p<0.001), and a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol of 9.5% (44.7±10.8 vs 52.2±12.6 vs 49.0±10.8 mg/dl; p<0.05) were observed. There was no reduction in triglyceride levels (134.9±50.3 vs 127.5±50.0 vs 121.0±36.0 mg/dl; p>0.05). Although not significant, a decrease in homocysteine by 4.5% (11.7±3.0 vs 11.0±2.9 vs 11.2±2.1 muM/l; p>0.05) was observed between the pre-and posttreatment periods, with a significant negative correlation between basal levels and posttreatment percentual reduction (r=-0.71; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: raloxifene treatment, 60 mg/day, for six months caused a significant decrease in total and LDL-cholesterol and an increase in HDL-cholesterol in postmenopausal women. Plasma homocysteine concentration tended to decrease, this effect being more favorable in patients with elevated baseline levels.
Menopause; Cardiovascular disease; Raloxifene; Homocysteine; Lipid profile
