To obtain the subject compound exhibiting an excellent antioxidizing activity, difficult to receive metabolism-inactivating actions, and useful for preventing or treating diseases to which active oxygen or lipid peroxides relate, by introducing an oxygen atom to the ring D of a steroid.

A compound of formula I (X is C=O, CH2, one of R1 and R2 is H, and the other is hydroxyl group; or X is CH2, and R1 and R2 are each H), e.g. D-homo-17-oxaestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3-ol. The compound of formula I is obtained by subjecting a compound of formula II (one of R3 and R4 is formula, a lower alkanoyl, and the other is H) to a Baeyer-Villiger reaction for treating peroxides in an inactive solvent, and subsequently subjecting the reaction product to a hydrolysis reaction using an alkali metal hydroxide. The diseases include arteriosclerosis, hyperlipemia and heart diseases and cancers. The compound of formula I is preferably administered at a dose of 0.1-5 mg/kg.