Korean J Intern Med.  2011 Mar;26(1):47-53. 10.3904/kjim.2011.26.1.47.

Effects of the Transition from Premenopause to Postmenopause on Lipids and Lipoproteins: Quantification and Related Parameters

• Cho EJ
• Min YJ
• Oh MS
• Kwon JE
• Kim JE
• Lee WS
• Lee KJ
• Kim SW
• Kim TH
• Kim MA
• Kim CJ
• Ryu WS

• KMID: 1036150
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2011.26.1.47

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
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.

Keyword

Lipids; Lipoproteins; Menopause; Gonadal steroid hormones

MeSH Terms

Adult
Cholesterol, HDL/blood
Cholesterol, LDL/blood
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood
Humans
Lipids/*blood
Lipoproteins/*blood
Middle Aged
Postmenopause/*blood
Premenopause/*blood