The effect of menopause on blood lipid and lipoprotein levels

There is increasing evidence from epidemiological studies that exogenous estrogen (hormone replacement therapy) protects against the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in women after the menopause. However, it is still uncertain whether the postmenopausal decrease in endogenous estrogen in itse...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atherosclerosis 1999-11, Vol.147 (1), p.147-153
Main Authors: de Aloysio, Domenico, Gambacciani, Marco, Meschia, Michele, Pansini, Francesco, Modena, Alberto Bacchi, Bolis, Pier Francesco, Massobrio, Marco, Maiocchi, Giuseppe, Peruzzi, Elena
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiology. Vascular system
Coronary heart disease
Cross-sectional analysis
Epidemiology
Heart
Lipid
Lipoprotein
Medical sciences
Menopause
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Summary:There is increasing evidence from epidemiological studies that exogenous estrogen (hormone replacement therapy) protects against the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in women after the menopause. However, it is still uncertain whether the postmenopausal decrease in endogenous estrogen in itself contributes significantly to this increase in risk. Most of the studies that have provided evidence linking cardiovascular disease with menopause have involved North American women, who may differ significantly from Europeans in terms of lifestyle and diet. ICARUS ( Italian Clim acteric Research Gro up Study) is an observational study that involves Italian Menopause Clinics, with the objective of collecting observational data on menopause and its management. The results of a cross-sectional analysis of 9309 women, free from any hormonal treatment and enrolled up to March 1997, are reported here. Data show that the menopause has a marked effect on the circulating levels of lipids and lipoproteins. From pre- to post-menopause there are significant increases in total cholesterol (6.9% before and 4.4% after adjustment for covariates including chronological age, educational level, center, BMI, smoking habits, hypertension and diabetes, previous contraceptive use, and time since menopause), LDL (7.5% before, 4.0% after), and triglycerides (9.0% before, 3.2% (ns) after). However, there is no significant change in HDL. Among postmenopausal women, no effect on lipid profile of time since menopause was observed.
ISSN:0021-9150
1879-1484
DOI:10.1016/S0021-9150(99)00315-9