A double blind cross-over study on the effects of ORG OD14 compared to estradiol valerate and placebo on the fatty acid composition of serum lecithin and cholesterol ester in oophorectomized women.

Twenty-two women, oophorectomized in connection with surgical treatment for cervical carcinoma in clinical stage IB or IIA, were given ORG OD14 [(7 alpha,17 alpha)17-hydroxy-7-methyl-19-norpregn-5-(10)20-yn-3-one; 2.5 mg/day], a placebo, and estradiol valerate (2 mg/day), six weeks each, in a double blind, cross-over study. ORG OD14 is a synthetic steroid for continuous treatment of climacteric symptoms which in traditional bioassays has been shown to have weak estrogenic and progestogenic as well as very weak androgenic-anabolic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate its effects on serum lecithin as well as on the relative fatty acid composition of serum lecithin and serum cholesterol ester. In serum lecithin, OD14 induced an increase in palmitic acid and a decrease in stearic acid, effects typical of 17-C-alkylated steroids, compared to both placebo and estradiol valerate. Furthermore, there was an increase in linoleic acid and a decrease in both arachidonic and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid after OD14 administration. This decrease is interpreted as an inhibitory action of the steroid on the mechanisms of elongation and desaturation of linoleic acid and is considered to be an androgenic influence. The relative decrease is further accentuated by the decrease in total serum lecithin induced by OD14. Since these fatty acids are the major precursors for prostaglandin synthesis, these findings might have relevance in that context.