J Clin Neurol.  2013 Apr;9(2):125-129. 10.3988/jcn.2013.9.2.125.

Hypolipidemia in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Possible Gender Difference?

• Yang JW
• Kim SM
• Kim HJ
• Kim JE
• Park KS
• Kim SH
• Lee KW
• Sung JJ

• KMID: 2179173
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2013.9.2.125

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
We compared the levels of serum lipid, protein, and glucose between patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and healthy controls.
METHODS
The serum levels of lipids [including triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)], protein, and glucose of 95 patients with ALS (60 men) were compared with those of 99 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (64 men). Both groups had normal dietary intakes.
RESULTS
Total cholesterol (p=0.004), LDL (p=0.040), triglyceride (p=0.025), and protein (p=0.010) levels, and LDL/HDL ratios (p<0.001) in men with ALS were significantly lower than those in their control counterparts. There were no such significant differences in these parameters between female patients with ALS and female controls.
CONCLUSIONS
The serum levels of lipid and protein were significantly lower in male patients with ALS than in the male controls. Since we controlled for the confounding effects of dietary intake, hypolipidemia in ALS might be associated with the pathophysiology of the disease rather than being the result of the decreased dietary intake in ALS patients. Metabolic demand might increase in ALS, and it may be affected by gender.

Keyword

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; dyslipidemia; gender differences

MeSH Terms

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Cholesterol
Dyslipidemias
Female
Glucose
Humans
Lipoproteins
Male
Triglycerides
Cholesterol
Glucose
Lipoproteins
Triglycerides

Figure

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  Fig. 1 ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, PEG: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

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