Postmenopausal women exhibit an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, and
type 2 diabetes mellitus compared with younger women. However, women receiving hormonal
replacement therapy (HRT) seem to be protected. Since chromium (Cr) functions in glucose,
lipid and corticosteroid metabolism and these variables, as well as Cr status, decline
with age, Cr status may be a contributing factor in the effects of hormone replacement
therapy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of hormonal
replacement therapy (HRT) on serum and urinary Cr, plasma lipids, glucose, fructosamine
and the related hormonal variables, estradiol, insulin, leptin, cortisol, and DHEA-sulfate.
Forty-four healthy postmenopausal women 50-60 years old participated in the study.
Eighteen were treated by combined oral hormonal replacement therapy (estradiol 2 mg
per day during days 1-25 and 10 mg of dydrogesterone on days 10-25) for at least 2
years, and 26 were untreated.
Serum Cr concentrations were significantly lower in untreated postmenopausal women
than in women receiving HRT (0.070+/-0.008 vs. 0.100+/-0.008 ng/ml) whereas urinary
Cr excretion was increased (0.14+/-0.02 vs. 0.07+/-0.01 ng of Cr/mg creatinine). The
urinary losses of Cr were inversely correlated with plasma estradiol. Median value
of urinary Cr was higher in postmenopausal women exhibiting endogenous estradiol levels
below 250 pmol/l, whereas women with estradiol levels >250 pmol/l, exhibited lower
Cr values. Plasma fructosamine, total and LDL cholesterol and TC/HDL ratio, which
are all decreased by improved Cr nutrition, were also improved in the women receiving
HRT. There were also nonsignificant decreasing trends in DHEA-sulfate (P<0.06) and
cortisol (0.07).
Chromium status, based upon blood and urinary analyses, and glucose, insulin and lipid
variables were improved in postmenopausal women receiving HRT. Additional studies
are needed to determine if improved Cr status due to supplemental Cr can elicit effects
consistent with those of hormone replacement therapy.