Estimation of Serum Cholesterol in Sudanese Pregnant Ladies during Third Gestational Period

Abstract

This study aimed to determine cholesterol serum levels among pregnant Sudanese women during their third gestational period. In this cross-sectional study, samples were collected from pregnant ladies during the period of September 2012 to April, 2013. The serum concentration of cholesterol was estimated in 120 cases and in a control group of 240 non pregnant women matched on the reproductive age. Cholesterol in serum samples was measured by enzymatic colorimetric technique, using commercially available test kits. Obtained data were analyzed using the statistical packages of social studies (SPSS), program for windows version 16, using student-'t' test. Results were compared as mean and standard deviation and considered significant when (P <0.05). In this study pregnant ladies were having mean cholesterol serum level greater than controls (6.5±0.8mmol/L, and 4.3±0.9mmol/L), respectively, (P value = 0.477). About 40% of pregnant ladies were having cholesterol level ?6.5mmol/L. However, more than 55% of pregnant ladies had cholesterol level >6.5mmol/L. This study concluded that higher concentrations of serum cholesterol were more common in pregnant women than control and reaching maximum at weeks 33rd to 36th of the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. The elevation of cholesterol may be a purely physiological response to pregnancy or it may be indicative of pathology in some women.