Does cholesterol protect women of all ages from cardiovascular disease?

No protective effect of HDL on all women

Postmenopausal factors may affect the cardioprotective properties of high density lipoprotein (HDL), often referred to as good cholesterol. As a result, this specific type of cholesterol does not protect older women against cardiovascular disease.

Researchers at the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered that good cholesterol does not prevent postmenopausal women from developing heart disease. Seems to protect circulatory diseases. The doctors published the results of their study in the English journal "Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis and vascular biology".

How do HDLs normally protect the heart?

HDLs are particles that circulate in the blood and differ in size and cholesterol content. Previous research had already revealed that HDL seems to protect the heart. This so-called good cholesterol transports heart fat, reduces plaque buildup and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

HDL can mask the risk of heart disease

The results of the study are widely available to the public Interestingly, as total HDL cholesterol is still used to predict the risk of cardiovascular disease, l \ u0026; author of the study Dr. Samar R. El Khoudary of the University of Pittsburgh. The current study confirms previous work on another group of women and suggests that physicians need to take a closer look at the nature of HDL in middle-aged and older women, as higher HDL cholesterol might not protect against cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. a, the expert continues. High HDL cholesterol levels in postmenopausal women can mask a significant risk of heart disease.

More than 1,100 subjects were studied for the study

The researchers evaluated a total of 1,138 women aged 45 to 84 years for their study participated in the multiethnic study of the Atherosclerosis (MESA) in the United States. The results indicate that the traditional measure of good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) does not provide an accurate picture of the risk of heart disease in postmenopausal women.

Women undergo physiological changes during menopause

Women experience various physiological changes in their bad hormones, lipids, body fat deposits, and vascular health during menopause. The authors of the study hypothesize that the decline of estrogen and other metabolic changes over time can trigger chronic inflammation that impairs the quality of HDL particles. Previous studies have already found an unexpected relationship between HDL cholesterol and postmenopausal women, but they have never been studied in more detail, experts say.

HDL cholesterol is not always cardioprotective?

This study examined two specific HDL measurements. From there, the researchers concluded that HDL cholesterol is not always cardioprotective in postmenopausal women. The deleterious badociation of high HDL cholesterol with the risk of atherosclerosis was more apparent in women who had started menopause ten years ago or so.

Different effects of HDL

In addition, a high number was found on small particles of HDL as beneficial for postmenopausal women. These results exist regardless of age. On the other hand, large HDL particles are badociated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease at the onset of menopause. Meanwhile, the quality of HDL can be reduced, increasing the likelihood that women will develop atherosclerosis or cardiovascular disease. If the onset of menopause lasts longer, the quality of HDL can recover, so good cholesterol is again cardioprotective, say the authors. (As)