Menopause-induced changes in lipid fractions and total fatty acids in plasma.
The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the changes induced by the menopause in plasma lipids and total fatty acids.


METHODS
35 post-menopausal and 25 non-postmenopausal women were included in the study. Plasma triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and HDL-C concentrations were detemined enzymatically. Plasma fatty acids were determined by capillary gas chromatography.


RESULTS
Total cholesterol was higher (p < 0.05) in the postmenopausal women (6.18 +/- 0.77 mmol/l vs. 5.21 +/- 0.85 mmol/l). No significant changes were observed, however, in TG, HDL-C or LDL-C. The study of plasma fatty acids showed the post-menopausal women to have raised levels (p < 0.05) of stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1), and decrease of arachidonic acid (C20:4). Also noteworthy was the significant decrease (p < 0.001) of the desaturation index D5 (3.82 +/- 1.75) in the post-menopausal women. The SHBG level was lower (p <0.001) in the post-menopausal women (55.98 +/- 20nmol/l) than in the non-menopausal women (68.36 +/- 30 nmol/l). Multivariate analysis revealed correlation between menopause and SHBG (r = -0.3904, p < 0.05), D5 (r = -0.500, p < 0.001), TC (r = 0.3137, p <0.05), stearic acid (r = 03564, p < 0.05) and oleic acid (r = 0.2954, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In post-menopausal women, as well as higher total cholesterol, the alterations in plasma fatty acids may constitute an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
Maynar
M
M
Department of Physiology, Sports Sciences School, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
Mahedero
G
G
Maynar
I
I
Maynar
J I
JI
Tuya
I R
IR
Caballero
M J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013229:Stearic Acids; D014280:Triglycerides; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019301:Oleic Acid; C031183:stearic acid; D002784:Cholesterol