The Eberbach/Wiesloch Study: lipoprotein profiles of 35- to 49-year-old men and women.

Plasma lipid- and lipoprotein profiles of a representative sample of men and women aged 35 to 49 years in the Federal Republik of Germany were investigated. Mean plasma cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and phospholipid levels were significantly higher in men than in women. An extensive investigation of plasma lipoproteins, including measurement of all major apolipoproteins and lipids in each density class revealed profound sex differences in the distribution and composition of lipoproteins. In men mean plasma levels of VLDL-cholesterol (33.20 mg/dl) and of VLDL-triglycerides (155 mg/dl) were three times as high as in women (11.38 mg/dl and 50.08 mg/dl, respectively). The relative amount of triglyceride was 15% higher in VLDL of men, due to decreased relative amounts of VLDL-phospholipids. Intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL) were significantly higher in men. Men had also higher levels of Apo B in low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Interestingly, LDL-cholesterol levels of men and women were not significantly different. Women had more high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and the absolute and relative amounts of HDL2-cholesterol were significantly higher in women. In summary, besides well-known sex differences in plasma lipid levels, sex-specific differences in the levels of certain plasma lipoproteins were observed. The most important finding was that the composition of the lipoproteins showed profound differences between men and women. With regard to risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, women have more favorable lipoprotein profiles than men. These data may provide a basis for further investigations on alterations in plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles in respect to risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.