title: Menopause-induced changes in lipid fractions and total fatty acids in plasma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Sports Sciences School, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maynar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mahedero
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maynar
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Maynar
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Tuya
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Caballero
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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