The influence of natural menopause on postprandial lipemia in heterozygotes for familial hypercholesterolemia

GD Kolovou, KK Anagnostopoulou… - Journal of Women's …, 2004 - liebertpub.com
GD Kolovou, KK Anagnostopoulou, ND Pilatis, M Giannopoulou, IS Hoursalas, AN Pavlidis
Journal of Women's Health, 2004liebertpub.com
Background: Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (hFH) is a genetic disease that
leads to premature atherosclerosis. Natural menopause leads to an adverse lipid profile and
an enhanced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Raised plasma triglyceride (TG) levels
also contribute to the risk of vascular events. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
postprandial TG levels (after a standardized fatty meal) in premenopausal and
postmenopausal women with hFH. Methods: Thirty-three Greek women with hFH were …
Background: Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (hFH) is a genetic disease that leads to premature atherosclerosis. Natural menopause leads to an adverse lipid profile and an enhanced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Raised plasma triglyceride (TG) levels also contribute to the risk of vascular events. The aim of this study was to evaluate the postprandial TG levels (after a standardized fatty meal) in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with hFH.
Methods: Thirty-three Greek women with hFH were divided into the premenopausal group—n = 16, mean age 34(SD = 7), mean total cholesterol = 330(30) mg/dl—and the postmenopausal group—n = 17, mean age 62(5), mean total cholesterol = 346(63) mg/dl. Plasma TG concentrations were measured before and 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after a standardized fat load. A value of >219 mg/dl (2.5 mmol/L) was taken as an abnormal response to the fat load, according to our previous studies.
Results: Postmenopausal women had higher TG levels at 2 (p = 0.001), 4 (p = 0.003), 6 (p = 0.003), and 8 hours (p = 0.005) after the fatty meal compared to premenopausal women. Fortyone percent of postmenopausal hFH women had abnormal TG response (hFH-A) after a fatty meal, and such women had higher fasting TG levels than postmenopausal hFH women with a normal response to the fatty meal (hFH-N) (p = 0.0014).
Conclusions: Women with hFH tend to have an abnormal TG response to a fatty meal after the menopause. Fasting TG levels may be able to predict the abnormal response to a fatty meal.
Mary Ann Liebert