[The influence of weight changes in pregnancy and postpartum on serum total cholesterol and triglyceride]

We measured total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) in 78 pregnant women with obvious hypercholesterolemia (TC greater than or equal to 300 mg/dl) in pregnancy, measuring the concomitant effects of age, grade of obesity prior to pregnancy, total weight gain and degree of weight gain during pregnancy. After delivery the body weight was measured until TC was below 250 mg/dl, and then the average weekly weight loss was calculated. Age, the grade of obesity prior to pregnancy, total weight gain or degree of weight gain during pregnancy did not influence TC or TG in pregnancy. TC or TG in pregnancy had no effects on the birth weight of the newborn. There was significantly positive correlation between TC or TG at the 13th-16th week of pregnancy and the maximal level of TC or TG in pregnancy. In 22 of the 25 subjects, whose average weekly weight loss was 1.0 kg or over, TC was below 250 mg/dl by the 8th week postpartum. In pregnancy many factors including weight changes might influence TC or TG; however, the effects of weight changes postpartum on TC or TG such as weight reduction in obesity might appear.