Effects of gender and menopausal status on plasma lipoprotein subspecies and particle sizes

• Published in: Journal of lipid research Vol. 37; no. 9; pp. 1886 - 1896
• Main Authors: Li, Z, McNamara, J R, Fruchart, J C, Luc, G, Bard, J M, Ordovas, J M, Wilson, P W, Schaefer, E J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier 01.09.1996
• Subjects: Adult; Apolipoproteins - blood; biological differences; cardiovascular diseases; Climacteric - blood; Coronary Disease - blood; Coronary Disease - etiology; diferencias biologicas; difference biologique; enfermedades cardiovasculares; Female; Humans; Lipoproteins - blood; Lipoproteins, HDL - blood; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Lipoproteins, VLDL - blood; maladie cardiovasculaire; Male; Menopause - blood; Middle Aged; Models, Statistical; Postmenopause - blood; Premenopause - blood; Regression Analysis; sex; Sex Factors; sexe; sexo; Statistics, Nonparametric
• ISSN: 0022-2275; 1539-7262
• DOI: 10.1016/s0022-2275(20)37553-2

The risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) is lower in women than in men, but increases in women after menopause. Some of the gender, age, and menopausal-related differences in CHD risk may relate to differences in lipoprotein subspecies. We therefore examined these subspecies in three groups of healthy subjects: premenopausal women (W, n = 72, mean age 41.2 +/- 6.5), postmenopausal women (PMW, n = 74, 55.8 +/- 7.4), and men (M, n = 139, 48.8 +/- 10.7). We measured plasma levels of lipids, lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoproteins A-I, A-IV, B, C-III, and E, and lipoprotein subspecies Lp A-I, Lp A-I:A-II, Lp B, Lp B:C-III, and Lp B:E, as well as LDL and HDL particle sizes. Our data indicate that women have significantly higher values of HDLC, apoA-I, apoE, and Lp A-I; larger LDL and HDL particle sizes; and lower values of triglyceride, apoB, and Lp B:C-III particles than men, with no difference in Lp A-I:A-II. Postmenopausal status was associated with significantly higher values of total cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL-C, and LDL-C; increased levels of apoB, C-III, and E; elevated values of Lp B, Lp B:C-III, and Lp B:E; and lower levels of HDL-C along with smaller HDL particle size. Moreover, we noted a strong correlation between LDL and HDL particle size. Our data are consistent with the concepts that male gender confers decreases in HDL subspecies due to lower Lp A-I levels; while postmenopausal status results in higher levels of all apoB-containing lipoproteins (Lp B, Lp B:C-III, and Lp B:E). The lipoprotein alterations associated with male gender and post-menopausal status would be expected to increase CHD risk.