Impact of Menopause and Body Composition Status on Dyslipidemia in Women.

The aim of this study was to identify the effects of menopausal and body composition statuses on measures of total and regional body composition and dyslipidemia in women. Sedentary, non-smoking women (N = 212), not currently treated for dyslipidemia were grouped based on 2 categories: (1) menstrual status: premenopausal or postmenopausal and (2) body composition status: normal weight (NW; BMI < 25 kg/m² and body fat (BF) < 36%), normal weight obese (NWO; BMI < 25 kg/m² and BF > 36%), or obese (BMI > 25 kg/m² and BF > 36%), to determine differences in total and regional body composition and measures of lipid and lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations. Overall, a greater prevalence of NWO was observed in postmenopausal versus premenopausal women. Being postmenopausal was associated with higher TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, HDL-C, and HDL₃-C. Premenopausal NWO women had elevated LDL-C and VLDL-C comparable to obese women. Postmenopausal NWO women had elevated Tg and VLDL-C and lower HDL-C similar to obese women. Menopausal status was not associated with differences in fat distribution, however, the age-related differences in lipids and lipoproteins appear to be due to a difference in menopausal status exacerbated in women who are NWO.