Lipoproteins and cholesterol esterification rate in men and women with hypercholesterolaemia of type IIa

The purpose of this study was to investigate sexual differences regarding lipoprotein concentrations and compositions, and the cholesterol esterification rate in subjects with type IIa hypercholesterolaemia. Twenty men and 33 women with type IIa hyperlipoproteinaemia, asymptomatic as regards ischaemic heart disease were investigated. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and phospholipids (PL) were measured in plasma and in the very-low-density (VLDL), low-density (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fractions. The cholesterol esterification rate was determined in plasma in vitro. In comparison with the male group the females had higher concentrations of TC and PL in the HDL, leading to higher ratios of HDL-TC/LDL-TC and HDL-PL/LDL-Pl in the females group. The cholesterol esterification rates were equal in the sexes. However, relations between the cholesterol esterification rates and lipoprotein concentrations and between cholesterol esterification rates and overweight were not equal in the sexes. The higher HDL-TC concentration and HDL-TC/DL-TC ratio in women than in men with type IIa might partly explain the lower female morbidity in cardiovascular disease.