Perimenopausal changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins: a 7-year longitudinal study.
Although cross-sectional studies suggest considerable influence of menopause on serum lipids and lipoproteins in women, it is not exactly clear. During our 7-year longitudinal study, serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were measured in 16 healthy perimenopausal women (aged 47-56 years at menopause) who had undergone annual examinations 4 years before and 3 years after menopause under a health examinations system in Osaka. Longitudinal design enabled us to study the natural course of serum lipids and lipoproteins. The results show that from 4 years before to 1 year after menopause, the serum concentration of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol increased on average by 25 mg/dl (14%) and 20 mg/dl (19%), respectively. Serum concentrations of triglycerides and of HDL cholesterol remained virtually unchanged during the perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods. It was concluded that serum lipids and lipoproteins are thus significantly altered as a consequence of menopause, resulting in a more atherogenic profile in the postmenopausal period.
Fukami
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Koike
K
K
Hirota
K
K
Yoshikawa
H
H
Miyake
A
A
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D002979:Climacteric / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol