New York: What has previously been known as good cholesterol – high density lipoprotein (HDL) – may actually contribute to heart diseases in women while they are transitioning through menopause, new research has found, reports IANS.
The researchers found that HDL, the “good cholesterol”, may not protect women against atherosclerosis, better known as hardening of the arteries that typically occurs as the result of high blood pressure, smoking and/or cholesterol.
The findings suggest that women more vulnerable to artery hardening during menopause. While HDL has well-documented benefits in protecting against the hardening process, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes, the new study showed that these benefits are diminished during the menopause transition probably due to hormonal alterations. The study included 225 women in their mid and late 40s who had up to five measures of plaque buildup over a maximum of nine years of follow-up.