Effect on serum LDL and HDL cholesterol concentrations of placebo or four hormone replacement regimens in postmenopausal women: CEE alone, with either cyclic or continuous MPA, or with micronized progesterone. CEE had the favorable effects of lowering serum LDL cholesterol and raising HDL cholesterol concentrations. The effect on serum LDL cholesterol was not changed with addition of a progestin (left panel), but only micronized progesterone caused an equivalent elevation in serum HDL cholesterol (right panel).
Data from: Effects of estrogen or estrogen/progestin regimens on heart disease risk factors in postmenopausal women. The Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions (PEPI) Trial. The Writing Group for the PEPI Trial, JAMA 1995; 273:199.