Effects of different oral oestrogen formulations on insulin-like growth factor-I, growth hormone and growth hormone binding protein in post-menopausal women.

Abstract

Insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels in post-menopausal women are reduced by oral administration of the synthetic oestrogen ethinyl oestradiol but increased by transdermal delivery of 17 beta-oestradiol. Since these oestrogen types are different, the aim of this study was to clarify whether reduction in IGF-I is a specific effect of ethinyl oestradiol or common to other oral oestrogen formulations.