Plasma Lipid Profile Among Perimenopausal Latvian Women in Relation to Dietary Habits

Background/Objectives: Hormonal changes throughout a woman's life cycle significantly affect serum lipid levels. Alterations in the serum lipid profile can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Additionally, nutrition and dietary habits are crucial for managing dyslipidemia. The current study evaluated the association between dietary habits and plasma lipid profiles among perimenopausal women in Latvia. Methods: The randomized clinical trial involved perimenopausal women (n = 61) aged 49 ± 3 years with moderately high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of 3.61 ± 0.30 mmol L^-1. A series of questionnaires were completed, including a questionnaire on the subject's demographic, anthropometric, lifestyle, health, physical activity, and dietary factors, a 24 h food diary, a 72 h food diary, and a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Blood testing was conducted for all participants, which included total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), and glucose level analyses. Results: The consumption of refined sugar, honey, syrup, and jam demonstrated a strong positive association with higher levels of remnant cholesterol (β = 0.462, p ≤ 0.05) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) (β = 0.395, p ≤ 0.05). Similarly, the consumption of fruit juices is associated with increased LDL-C (β = 0.303, p ≤ 0.05) and non-HDL-C (β = 0.285, p ≤ 0.05). Conversely, higher meat and poultry consumption negatively correlates with TC levels (β = -0.290, p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: This underscores the need for further examination to understand the impact of dietary habits on lipid profile.