APStracts 2:0155E, 1995.

Cyclical variation of plasma lipids, apolipoproteins and lipoprotein(a) during the menstrual cycle in normal women. Tonolo, G., M. Ciccarese, P. Brizzi, S. Milia, S. Dessole, L. Puddu, G. Secchi, M. Maioli. Servizio di Diabetologia, Istituto di Clinica Medica, Universit[grave]a di Sassari, Italy, Istituto di Ostetricia e Ginecologia,Universit[grave]a di Sassari, Italy

APStracts 2:0155E, 1995.

We report herein the effects of cyclical variations of endogenous sex steroids during the menstrual cycle on plasma lipids and apolipoproteins in normal women. We examined 16 normal women (age range 25-36 years) with normal menstrual cycles of 28-31 days. The study covered the period from the first day of a menstrual phase (basal) until the first day of the following menstrual phase. During the study all women maintained a normolipidic diet (30 % fat). Plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were significantly higher than basal in the preovulatory phase until progesterone started to increase in the postovulatory phase (day +8 from LH surge). HDL -Cholesterol was significantly higher than basal from day -1 to the day after LH surge, while plasma Apo A1 levels were significantly higher from day -8 to day +8 (from LH surge). Plasma apo(a) increased significantly during the luteal phase in four women characterised by a single S4 band and lower basal plasma levels of apo(a). Our results indicate that endogenous female sex steroids have significant effects on the circulating levels of plasma lipids and apolipoproteins, including apo(a). More work should be done to elucidate the significance of the observed apo(a) changes, but, in any case, the different phases of the menstrual cycle must be taken into account when evaluating the lipidic risk profile in pre-menopausal women.

Received 21 April 1995; accepted in final form 10 July 1995.
APS Manuscript Number E188-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 30 July 1995.