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 profiles and menopausal status, age, and obesity in Taiwanese women. The study population, established in 1990–91, consisted of 671 premenopausal and 872 postmenopausal women from the Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Cohort (CCCC). The associations of age, body mass index (BMI), and menopausal status with serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), apoproteins (Apo) A-1 and B, and lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] were evaluated. The results showed that menopause was associated with significant increases in TC, LDL-C, TG, and Apo B levels (all P<0.001). Total cholesterol, LDL-C, TG, and Apo B levels increased consistently with BMI in middle-aged women, regardless of menopausal status. Among women aged 45–49, menopausal women had significantly higher levels of TC and LDL-C than premenopausal women (P<0.01). However, TG and Apo B levels were higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women aged 50–54 years (P<0.05). Standardized regression analyses showed all lipid variables, except those of Apo A1 and Lp (a) before menopause and TC, LDL-C, and Lp (a) after menopause, were significantly associated with BMI (all P<0.01). We conclude serum lipid levels in Taiwanese women are no more strongly associated with menopause and BMI than with age.