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NIH findings suggest a need to consider phase of cycle when measuring cholesterol
Research from the National Institutes of Health indicates that women’s cholesterol levels
correspond with monthly changes in estrogen levels. This natural variation may indicate a
need to take into account the phases of a woman’s monthly cycle before evaluating her
cholesterol measures. On average, the total cholesterol level of the women in the study
varied 19 percent over the course of the menstrual cycle.
In a typical cycle, estrogen levels steadily increase as the egg cell matures, peaking just
before ovulation. Previous studies have shown that taking formulations which contain
estrogen—oral contraceptives or menopausal hormone therapy—can affect cholesterol
levels. However, the results of studies examining the effects of naturally occurring
hormone levels on cholesterol have not been conclusive. According to the NIH’s National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, high blood cholesterol levels raise the risk for heart
disease.
The researchers found that as the level of estrogen rises, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol also rises, peaking at the time of ovulation. HDL cholesterol is believed to be
protective against heart disease.
The findings were published online in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and
Metabolism.
The study compared estrogen with cholesterol and triglyceride levels among 259 healthy
women between 18 and 44 years old. For 94 percent of the volunteers, researchers took
14 or more measurements over two menstrual cycles. Women charted the phases of their
cycles with at-home fertility monitors, which detect hormone levels that indicate
ovulation.
Most of the women were physically active and did not smoke. Only 5 percent
consistently had total cholesterol levels greater than 200 mg/dL, considered borderline
high-risk for heart disease. However, cholesterol levels among 19.7 percent of the women
reached 200 mg/dL at least once.
A small subset of obese women over 40 showed greater fluctuation in cholesterol levels
during their cycles than did the rest of the group.
"Other studies are needed to confirm our findings among obese women," Dr. Mumford
said. Further research may help clarify the optimal point in the cycle for doctors to
measure women’s cholesterol levels and help clinicians develop standardized procedures
for measuring cholesterol in premenopausal women and determining their heart disease
risk.
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The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health;
reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit the
Institute's Web site at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes
and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary
federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it
investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information
about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.