Lipids and lipoproteins in plasma from early pregnancy to postpartum and
associations with ethnic background: a population-based cohort study
from Norway.
Abstract
Objective To describe ethnic differences in plasma lipid levels and
their changes during pregnancy to postpartum. Design Population-based
cohort study Setting Primary antenatal care, Eastern Oslo, Norway
Population or Sample Healthy pregnant women, 59% with ethnic minority
background (n=806). Methods Fasting lipid levels were measured at
gestational week (GW) 15, 28 and 14 weeks postpartum. We performed
linear regression models and linear mixed models to explore the total
effect of ethnicity on lipids, adjusting for GW or week postpartum, age
and education. Main Outcome Measures Levels of triglycerides, HDL-, LDL-
and total cholesterol. Results At GW 15, triglyceride levels were lower
in women of African origin (1.03 mmol/mol (95% CI: 0.90, 1.16)) and
higher in women of South Asian (1.42 mmol/mol (1.35, 1.49)) and East
Asian origin (1.58 mmol/mol (1.43, 1.73)) compared with Western
Europeans (1.26 mmol/mol (1.20, 1.32)). Women of Asian and African
origin had a smaller increase in triglycerides, LDL and total
cholesterol from GW 15 to 28. At GW 28 LDL-cholesterol levels were
lowest among East Asians at (3.03 mmol/mol (2.72, 3.34)) compared with
Western Europeans (3.62 mmol/mol (3.50, 3.74)). Triglyceride and
HDL-cholesterol levels were lower postpartum than in early pregnancy in
all groups, but LDL-cholesterol levels were higher, except in Africans.
South and East Asian women had lower HDL-cholesterol and higher
triglycerides postpartum, while African women had lower triglyceride
levels than Western Europeans. Conclusion We found significant
differences in lipid levels and changes during pregnancy and the early
postpartum period related to ethnic origin.