The pattern of lipids and lipoproteins during the menopausal transition in Chinese women

AbstractObjective To investigate changes in levels of lipids and lipoproteins in Chinese women during perimenopause and postmenopause as primary study endpoints, for the first time including lipoprotein(a).Methods The retrospective study was performed in 1015 women without hormone therapy aged 34–76 years from 20 provinces of China who visited the Beijing Obstetrics & Gynecology hospital. Menopausal status was defined by the criteria of the 2011 Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop.Results Levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol increased and that of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol decreased in the postmenopausal compared to the perimenopausal group. In the women with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol increased, HDL cholesterol decreased and changes in triglyceride levels were not significant. In the women with BMI < 25 kg/m2, the increase in triglyceride levels during the transition was significant. Changes...