Effect of estradiol metabolites on the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein to oxidation.

The main estradiol metabolites 2-hydroxyestrone, 2-methoxyestrone and 16alpha-hydroxyestrone were investigated in vitro for the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein to oxidation and the effects compared with those of estradiol and vitamin E. 2-hydroxyestrone and 2-methoxyestrone had a greater inhibitory effect than estradiol and vitamin E whereas 16alpha-hydroxyestrone approximates the inhibition of estradiol. These results indicate that 2-hydroxyestrone and 2-methoxyestrone possess non-genomic actions which may play a role in the lipid metabolism.