title: Effects of the transition from premenopause to postmenopause on lipids and lipoproteins: quantification and related parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to quantitatively measure changes in lipids and lipoproteins during perimenopause and to identify variables related to these changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among women who had three regular health evaluations over a span of 2-4 years, 34 women remained in the premenopausal state, 34 premenopausal women transitioned to the postmenopausal state, and 36 postmenopausal women were enrolled. The menopausal state was determined not only by a history of amenorrhea but also by levels of female sex hormones. Yearly changes in lipids were calculated using a linear regression of the three measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The transition from premenopause to postmenopause was associated with increased total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 7.4 ± 8.0 mg/dL (4.2 ± 4.9%) and 6.9 ± 6.5 mg/dL (6.8 ± 7.0%) over one year, resulting in an elevation of 19.6 ± 22.6 mg/dL (10.9 ± 13.0%) and 18.9 ± 19.5 mg/dL (18.6 ± 20.3%), respectively, during perimenopause. There were no changes observed in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Body weight, blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides did not change in any of the three groups. In all women, changes in both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were associated with changes in follicle stimulating hormone (r = 0.40, p < 0.001 and r = 0.38, p < 0.001, respectively). Changes in triglycerides were associated with changes in body weight (r = 0.28, p = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During perimenopause, total and LDL cholesterol levels increase and these changes in cholesterol are mainly dependent on changes in female sex hormones.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Eun Jeung
authors: EJ
authors: Cho
authors: Yun Joo
authors: YJ
authors: Min
authors: Min Seok
authors: MS
authors: Oh
authors: Jee Eun
authors: JE
authors: Kwon
authors: Jeung Eun
authors: JE
authors: Kim
authors: Wang-Soo
authors: WS
authors: Lee
authors: Kwang Je
authors: KJ
authors: Lee
authors: Sang-Wook
authors: SW
authors: Kim
authors: Tae Ho
authors: TH
authors: Kim
authors: Myung-A
authors: MA
authors: Kim
authors: Chee Jeong
authors: CJ
authors: Kim
authors: Wang Seong
authors: WS
authors: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone