Assessment of Serum Lipid Profile During the Second and Third Trimester of Pregnancy in Healthy Sudanese Women

Abstract

A cross-sectional study conducted during the period from November 2009 to June 2010, compared the serum levels of lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol) of 60 apparently healthy Sudanese pregnant women (as a test group) and 30 apparently healthy non- pregnant volunteers (as a control group). The test group included in this study was from Umbada hospital. The test group and the control group were matched in term of age. The concentration of T. cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL levels were measured using BTS- Biosystem analyzer from Biosystem Company. Healthy pregnant women were found to have significantly raised serum lipid profile. The means± SD for test group versus controls: (206.3±43.4) versus (160.4±22.9) mg/dl, (p= 0.000) for T. Cholesterol concentration. (142.7±54.3) versus (107±24.9) mg/dl, p= (0.001) for triglycerides concentration. (118.3±33.5) versus (84.3 ±19.9) mg/dl, (p= 0.000) for LDL concentration. (59.9±11.8) versus (53.6±10.8) mg/dl, (p= 0.016) for HDL concentration. To evaluate the effect of duration of pregnancy on the levels of serum lipids, the pregnant group (n=60) was divided into two sub groups, 30 pregnant women in the second trimester (13 to 28 week), and 30 in third trimester (29 to 40 week) of pregnancy. It was found that the pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy were found to have significantly higher serum T. cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL compared to control group. In the test group, there was a weak positive correlation between the parity of pregnancy and the concentrations of serum T. Cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL, whereas serum HDL has no correlation with parity. From this study it is concluded that; serum lipid profile is increased in Sudanese pregnant women. Serum lipid profile is significantly elevated in the third trimester of pregnancy compared to the second trimester of pregnancy. Also the parity has a weak positive correlation with serum lipid profile, except for HDL which has no correlation.