The Epidemiology of High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Post-Menopausal Women

Abstract

High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) appears to be the most important risk factor of heart attack where increased HDLc levels are associated with reduced heart attack risk. Little is known regarding the determinants of HDLc in older women. The current research investigated possible HDLc correlates in 75 post-menopausal women. Obesity was negatively related and was the strongest determinant. Alcohol consumption and physical activity were also highly related. Of importance was that physical activity was related but only at the highest levels (= 2,000 kilo-calories per week). The increased levels of HDLc as a function of physical activity was very interesting because the activities were of relatively low intensity suggesting that the amount of activity rather than intensity was the primary physical activity determinant of HDLc.