Evaluation of Lipid Profile in Second and Third Trimester of Pregnancy

There is a change in energy usage along with accumulation of fat during different trimesters of pregnancy. Lipid physiology and pathophysiology during pregnancy has not been studied extensively in large population-based cohorts.

To study the levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides (TGs) during pregnancy and their changes in second and third trimester.

This prospective study was conducted at Mahatma Gandhi Mission Hospital, Navi Mumbai, India by enrolling antenatal cases from October, 2012 to October 2014. The study was conducted on 200 pregnant local women after taking an informed consent from patients to get enrolled in the study. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17. All reported p-values are two-tailed, and confidence intervals were calculated at the 95% level.

The mean cholesterol levels in second and third trimester were 214.6±18.16 mg/dl and 242.65±20.44 mg/dl respectively. The mean triglyceride levels in second and third trimester were 188.68±20.88 mg/dl and 216.78±20.09 mg/dl respectively. The mean HDL - Cholesterol levels in second and third trimester were 49.13±6.15 mg/dl and 43.07±4.34 mg/dl respectively. The mean LDL - Cholesterol levels in second and third trimester were 92.41±18.94 mg/dl and 137.82±13.45 mg/dl respectively. The mean VLDL - Cholesterol levels in second and third trimester were 28.22±7.66 mg/dl and 36.27±6.72 mg/dl respectively.

This study helps in understanding baseline lipid parameters in the second and third trimester among pregnant women in India. Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL-Cholesterol, VLDL-Cholesterol increased in both second and third trimester. The increase is more in third trimester, when compared to second. HDL-Cholesterol is decreased in third trimester when compared to second trimester.