Serum Lipid Profiles, Homocysteine Levels And Cardiovascular Disease Risk In Pregnant Nigerian Women

Objectives: To compare the levels of lipids and homocysteine in the serum of third- trimester pregnant women and health , age –matched non pregnant controls. Methods: We compared the levels of these lipids {total cholesterol, particularly lipoproteins such as LDL} and homocysteine in the serum of third- trimester pregnant women healthy, age –matched non –pregnant controls. Blood samples were obtained by venipuncture and the samples were allowed to clot at room temperature for 45 minutes before centrifugation to separate the serum. Result: Compared to the controls, the following substances were significantly elevated in the pregnant women: total cholesterol, 212vs.191mg/dL{p=0.02}; triglycerides, 153vs. 89.5 mg/dL{p=0.004};and hdL,67.0vs.56.6 mg/dL{p=.004}.the mean LDL-cholesterol levels of the pregnant {116mg/dL}and non pregnant controls{110mg/dLwere not significantly different. However, the mean homocysteine concentration of the pregnant women was about 30% lower compared with the controls group {7.1vs.10.1m01/L,