Influence of parity on plasma lipid levels

Plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol (HDLC) and LDL cholesterol (LDLC), triacylglycerols (TG) and apoprotein (apo) A-I, A-II and B were measured in 516 women in the early puerperium. Different lipid plasma values (TC: 5.98 +/- 1.17 mmol/l, LDLC: 3.79 +/- 1.12 mmol/l, apo B: 108 +/- 24 mg/dl) and ratios (LDLC/HDLC: 2.85 +/- 1.09) were significantly (p less than 0.02) lower after the first pregnancy (n = 209) than after five or more pregnancies (n = 15) (TC: 6.50 +/- 2.10 mmol/l, LDLC: 4.36 +/- 1.97 mmol/l, apo B 130 +/- 50 mg/dl, LDLC/HDLC: 3.44 +/- 0.89). The opposite was true for the HDLC/TC ratio which was significantly lower (p less than 0.02) after five or more pregnancies (20.0 +/- 3.5) than after the first pregnancy (24.1 +/- 6.6). We also found a significant correlation (p less than 0.02) between the TC, LDLC, apo B and LDLC/HDLC ratio levels and parity. Other factors which could interfere with lipid metabolism (diet, body/mass index smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake) were not different between the various parity groups. Hence, we could not find a reason for the lipid elevation after the subsequent pregnancies. Although the higher lipid levels in puerperium of multipara should indicate a higher risk for progression of atherosclerosis, we need more studies before to conclude that multiparity influences the risk for coronary heart disease.