Effects of menopause and obesity on lipid profiles in middle-aged Taiwanese women: the Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Cohort Study

In this cross-sectional study, we examined the associations between lipid p rofiles and menopausal status, age, and obesity in Taiwanese women. The stu dy population, established in 1990-91, consisted of 671 premenopausal and 8 72 postmenopausal women from the Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Cohort (CCCC). The associations of age, body mass index (BMI), and menopausal stat us with serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cho lesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerid es (TG), apoproteins (Apo) A-1 and B, and lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] were eva luated. The results showed that menopause was associated with significant i ncreases in TC, LDL-C, TG, and Apo B levels tall P < 0.001). Total choleste rol, LDL-C, TG, and Apo B levels increased consistently with BMI in middle- aged women, regardless of menopausal status. Among women aged 45-49, menopa usal women had significantly higher levels of TC and LDL-C than premenopaus al women (P < 0.01). However, TG and Apo B levels were higher in postmenopa usal than in premenopausal women aged 50-54 years (P < 0.05). Standardized regression analyses showed all lipid variables, except those of Apo Al and Lp (a) before menopause and TC, LDL-CI and Lp (a) after menopause, were sig nificantly associated with BMI tall P < 0.01). We conclude serum lipid leve ls in Taiwanese women are no more strongly associated with menopause and BM I than with age. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved .