HDL concentration, lipid transfer to HDL, and HDL size in normolipidemic nonobese menopausal women

ObjectiveTo determine the impact of menopause on lipid transfer from donor lipoproteins to high-density lipoproteins (HDLs)—a process that is related to the protective function of HDL—and the size of HDL particles.MethodPlasma from 22 premenopausal and 18 postmenopausal nonobese, normolipidemic women paired for age (40–50 years) was incubated in an artificial nanoemulsion labeled with radioactive lipids. Then the HDL fraction was assessed for radioactivity; the percentage of radioactive lipids transferred from the nanoemulsion to HDL was determined; and the size of HDL particles was measured by laser light scattering.ResultsThere were no differences between the 2 groups in serum concentration of HDL cholesterol (61 ± 12 mg/dL vs 61 ± 14 mg/dL) or apolipoprotein A1 (1.5 ± 0.3 g/L vs 1.5 ± 0.2 g/L); lipid transfer to HDL; or size of HDL particles (8.8 ± 0.8 vs 9.0 ± 0.5 nm).ConclusionMenopause was not found to affect HDL cholesterol plasma concentration, lipid transfer to HDL, or size of HDL particles in normolipidemic nonobese women.