Question

Assertion (A): Systemic estrogens as HRT are indicated in post-menopausal women with hypertriglyceridemia.

Reason (R): The systemic estrogens induce the hepatic synthesis of lipoproteins.

• A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is true but R is false.
• D. A is false but R is true.

Hint:

Think about what oral estrogen does to triglycerides through the liver, and whether that helps or worsens hypertriglyceridemia.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

This question turns on whether oral estrogen helps or worsens high triglyceride levels. Let's work through the options.

1. Both true, R explains A: This does not fit, because the assertion itself is false, oral estrogen is not given as treatment for hypertriglyceridemia.
2. Both true, R does not explain A: This also needs A to be true, which it is not.
3. A true, R false: This fails on both parts, since A is false and R is actually a correct pharmacology fact.
4. A false, R true: Oral estrogen is processed by the liver first, and this first pass through the liver pushes up the making of triglyceride carrying VLDL particles, so blood triglycerides rise. Because of this, a woman who already has high triglycerides is put at more risk, not less, if given oral estrogen, which is why doctors usually avoid oral routes or contraindicate them here and prefer transdermal estrogen instead. So the assertion, that it is indicated in this group, is false, while the reason, describing the liver effect, is a true and relevant fact. This option fits.

The key idea is that the very mechanism named in the reason, more liver made lipoproteins, is what makes oral estrogen risky rather than helpful for someone with high triglycerides.

Let's summarize:

• Oral estrogen raises triglycerides by boosting hepatic VLDL production.
• This makes it something to avoid, not to prescribe, in women with hypertriglyceridemia.

So A is false but R is true.