The Impact of Low Estrogen on the Heart and Body Composition in Women (LILAC Study)
We want to learn how estrogen levels during menopause might affect artery health, body fat, and risk of heart disease in women with regular periods.
Why this Research Matters
We are asking women who have regular periods to join a study about how estrogen and menopause affect body composition and blood vessel health.
If you join our study, you will get a medication that lowers estrogen levels close to postmenopausal levels. You will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. This means you won’t get to choose which group you will be in, like flipping a coin. The first group will wear an estrogen patch each day, and the second group will wear a patch with no estrogen each day. At the study visits, we will do CT (CAT) and DXA scans to take X-ray pictures of your body to measure body fat and bone density. We will take blood samples to check your cholesterol, hormones, blood sugar, and insulin. We will also check your blood pressure and how healthy your arteries are with an ultrasound machine. At home, you will take surveys and keep track of your sleep, food habits, and physical activity in a journal.
You will have eight visits that are about 1 to 5 hours each. These visits will be in person at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The study will take about 6 to 7 months.
You may be able to join the study if you:
- Do not smoke
- Are not taking medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol
- Do not use hormonal birth control
More information available at ClinicalTrials.gov:
NCT06264882
You can get up to $800 if you complete all study visits.
