Srpski Arhiv za Celokupno Lekarstvo (Jan 2007)
The influence of age and the beginning of menopause on the lipid status, LDL oxidation, and CRP in healthy women
Abstract
Introduction: Atherogenic lipid profile is an important risk factor in development of atherosclerosis in menopausal women. High level of small dense LDL, that is more susceptible to oxidation, and high levels of inflammatory markers are also associated with an increased risk for development of atherosclerosis. Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between lipid profile, oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as inflammatory reaction in healthy women dependent on age and menopause. Method. The study included a group of clinically healthy women (total of 97 women). Group 1: 15 women younger than 45 years; group 2: 62 women between 46 and 55 years, group 3: 20 women between 56 and 65 years, group of menopausal women (73) and group of premenopausal women (24). None of the women had history of obesity, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular, ischaemic heart disease, and hypertension. Lipid profiles were measured by enzymatic methods. Ox-LDL was measured by using a specific monoclonal antibody, mAb4E6. CRP was measured using hemiluminiscent methods (Immulite-DPC). Results. Results showed significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (p<0.01) and LDL cholesterol (p<0.01) in women over 56 years compared with women younger than 45 years. We also found similar results in menopausal women. Levels of Ox-LDL (p<0.05) and CRP (p<0.01) showed significantly higher levels in women over 56 years. In menopausal women, we found significantly higher levels of CRP (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of oxLDL between the menopausal and premenopausal women. Levels of triglycerides and HDL cholesterol were not different among groups. We found that 51% women had levels of HDL cholesterol lower than 1.3 mmol/L. In all groups of women, we found positive correlation among age, Ox-LDL (p<0.01) and CRP (p<0.01). Ox-LDL also positively correlated with CRP (p<0.01). Conclusion. In healthy women older than 56 as in menopausal women, we found significantly higher levels of LDL cholesterol and inflammatory markers. These results suggest that strategies of primary prevention in women are needed to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
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