Variation of lipids and lipoproteins in premenopausal women compared with men and postmenopausal women

Numerous studies have reported cyclic fluctuations in lipids and lipoprotei ns as a function of the phase of the menstrual cycle. However, the reported patterns are quite variable and have led to an unclear picture of the infl uence of the menstrual cycle on the variability of lipids and hence of the role of the menstrual cycle phase in the interpretation of serum lipids for premenopausal women. As part of the DELTA Study (Dietary Effects on Lipopr oteins and Thrombogenic Activity), we evaluated the cyclic variation of cir culating lipids and lipoproteins in 39 premenopausal women and compared int raindividual variances in these women, 18 postmenopausal women, and 46 men under conditions of tight dietary control. Cholesterol, high-density lipopr otein (HDL)-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglyc eride, apolipoproteins A-1 (apo A-1) and B-100 (apo B-100), and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] all demonstrated cycling in the premenopausal women. However, the observed cycling accounts for only a small fraction of the total biolog ic variability of lipids in premenopausal women. The magnitude of total int raindividual variability based on coefficient of variation (CV) for these l ipids in premenopausal women (CV, 4% to 8.1%) was similar to that found for men (CV, 4.3% to 9.1%) and for postmenopausal women (CV, 3.7% to 6.7%). Th ese results suggest that protocols for screening and monitoring of serum li pids in premenopausal women need not differ from those used for men or post menopausal women. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.