Changes in LDL density across the menopausal transition

Background: The risk of coronary artery disease increases in women after me nopause, This increased risk may be associated with alterations in the lipi d profile characterized by changes in LDI, particle size and buoyancy. Char acterization of lipoprotein levels and LDL buoyancy across the stages of th e menopausal transition has yet to be reported. Methods: Plasma lipoprotein concentrations, LDL buoyancy, and body mass ind ex (BMI) were studied cross-sectionally in five groups of women: premenopau sal women (n=42), women in early menopausal transition (n=35), middle menop ausal transition (n=19), late menopausal transition (n=20), and postmenopau sal women (n=14), No women were taking estrogen. Results: The postmenopausal women had significantly higher low-density lipo protein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol than premenopausal women (P<0.05), LDL-C and Apo B was significantly higher in women in the late men opausal transition compared to premenopausal women (P<0.05). All women in t he menopausal transition and post-menopause had significantly more dense LD L than premenopausal women (P<0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that the change in LDL buoyancy associated with the menopausal transition p eriod could be explained by changes in triglyceride and HDL-C, related to c hanges in body mass index. Conclusions: These data suggest that the menopausal transition is associate d with more dense LDL and higher LDL-C levels in comparison to premenopausa l women, It appears that whereas LDL-C may change late in the menopausal tr ansition, the production of denser LDL particles appears early in the menop ausal transition, both acting to worsen the lipoprotein profile. Increased triglyceride and decreased HDL appeared to account for the shift toward sma ll, dense LDL, presumably related to increased BMI. The change in LDL densi ty may contribute to the higher incidence of atherosclerosis in postmenopau sal women.