title: Influence of menopause on high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and lipids.
abstract: It has been generally accepted that high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level decreases with menopause in women. However, recent reports show different results. There is very little data concerning perimenopausal women. To verify these findings, lipids and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels were compared among pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women of similar mean ages. Postmenopausal women had higher HDL-C levels than premenopausal women (p<0.001) and there was no difference between peri- and postmenopausal women. LDL-C level in perimenopausal women was lower than in postmenopausal women (p<0.001) and higher than in premenopausal women with borderline significance (p=.051). Total cholesterol levels showed stepwise elevation from premenopause to postmenopause. Perimenopausal women had lower Lp(a) levels than postmenopausal women (p<0.0005) and similar levels to premenopausal women. Lp(a) levels between 0.1 to 10.0 mg/dL were the most prevalent in pre- and perimenopausal women, and those between 10.1 to 20.0 mg/dL in postmenopausal women. In conclusion, menopause itself is associated with the elevation of HDL-C level, and the postmenopausal increase of coronary artery disease is not related to postmenopausal change of HDL-C level. Perimenopausal status, although transient, may favor Lp(a) and lipid profiles for delaying atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. cjkim@cau.ac.kr
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: U H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Ryoo
mesh_terms: D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000097:blood; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008055:Lipids; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002784:Cholesterol