A meta-analysis of serum lipid profiles in premature ovarian insufficiency

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), defined as loss of normal ovarian functions before the age of 40 years, occurs in at least 1% of all women. It affects the reproductive system and causes many health problems and psychological stress. Abnormal serum lipid profile leads to cardiovascular diseases, which are strongly associated with high mortality in patients with POI. To date, several studies have examined the levels of different serum lipids in patients with POI. The results, however, are either inconclusive or inconsistent. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis was to measure whether serum levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride are varied in patients with POI. Ten studies in total were included in this meta-analysis involving 1009 individuals: 458 patients with POI and 551 controls. Our analysis results showed that serum total cholesterol (P < 0.00001), LDL-C (P < 0.0001), and triglyceride (P = 0.01) levels were significantly higher in patients with POI compared with healthy controls. Serum HDL-C levels, however, did not vary significantly between controls and patients with POI. These results suggest that elevations in unfavourable lipids may contribute to the high risk of cardiovascular diseases that are observed in patients with POI.