A STUDY OF INFLUENCE OF MENOPAUSE ON SERUM LIPID PROFILE

Background: Menopause is a physiological change due to which women passes from fertile to infertile period. Decreased oestrogen production in post menopausal women alter the lipid metabolism. Since altered serum lipid profile seen in menopause is one of the significant risk factors for developing coronary heart diseases, influence of menopause on lipid levels is aimed to study. Aim and Objective: To study the influence of menopause on serum lipid profile by estimating the level of serum cholesterol and various lipoproteins in premenopausal and post menopausal women. Methods: After getting ethical committee approval, in this cross sectional study, women of age 45- 55 and normal BMI attending Government Sivagangai Medical College for master health checkup were selected. Informed consent obtained and estimation of serum lipid profile was done for all of them. Results: Statistical analysis was done by students t test and the results were compared between pre and post menopausal women. In post menopausal women, the mean values of triglycerides (p=0.016) and very low density lipoprotein levels (p=0.046) were increased significantly. Conclusion: Significant increase in serum triglycerides and very low density lipoproteins is due to menopause which causes changes in body metabolism. Serum lipid levels should be checked periodically after menopause and life style modifications should be adviced at an earlier stage.