The present invention features materials and methods for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal or perimenopausal women. More specifically, these methods can be used in women who generally have no apparent cardiovascular disease. We describe herein methods of administering non-antibacterial tetracycline or a sub-antimicrobial amount of antibacterial tetracyclines or tetracycline formulations and their use in reducing the risk that cardiovascular disease will develop in a subject (e.g., in a post- or perimenopausal woman)
