- Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (2013) Volume 3, Issue 19

Effects of age and gender on serum lipid profile in over 55 years-old apparently healthy Sudanese individuals

Background: Previous data on the possible effects of age and gender on serum lipids profile of elderly people showed considerable debates. Aim: to evaluate the effects of age and gender on serum lipids profile measurements in over 55 years-old Sudanese individuals. Materials and methods: The study involved sixty-four males and forty agematched females. The studied subjects were grouped according to their ages into those < 60 years, 60-69 years and ≥ 70 years. Following at least 12 hours fasting, serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) were measured. Volunteers were categorized based on their serum lipids measurements using the guidelines of the third report of the expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of the high blood cholesterol in adults. Results: lipids measurements were comparable in both genders; except HDLcholesterol which was significantly less in males (M±SD = 45.2±13.76 mg/dl) compared to females (M±SD = 51.8±14.9 mg/dl, P = 0.032). Age correlated negatively with total cholesterol (CC = -0.322, P = 0.001) and LDL-cholesterol (CC = -0.352, P = 0.000). Prevalence of dyslipidemic patterns were as follows; total cholesterol ≥ 240 mg/dL: 7/104 (6.7%); LDL-cholesterol ≥ 160 mg/dL: 4/104 (3.85%); triglycerides ≥ 200 mg/dL. 5/104 (4.81%), and HDL-cholesterol < 40 mg/dL in males and < 50 mg/dL in females: 45/104 (43.30%). Conclusion: the elderly females tend to have significantly higher HDLcholesterol compared with the elderly males. Both total cholesterol and LDLcholesterol are likely to decrease with age in those above 55 years old.

Author(s): Tarig A. Marhoum, AbdElkarim A. Abdrabo, Mohamed F. Lutfi

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