Lipid profile

The most typical changes with aging are lipid metabolism. The concentration of lipids and LP in the serum reflects a predisposition to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular

Fig. Change in ESR as a function of age

Fig. The change in ESR, depending on the age of the

diseases, both in middle-aged people and in the elderly, so lipid metabolism disorders are one of the early markers of aging. Establishing the nature of lipid metabolism disorders is important in the selection of adequate specific drug therapy and the only method for assessing its effectiveness. To assess the lipid profile, the uses a whole set of indicators.

As the aging process occurs, the profile of the lipoprotein is disrupted, which becomes an important risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, IHD in men and women, and the leading cause of death in people older than 50 years.

The content of total cholesterol in the blood increases from 20-30 years to 60 years in men and up to 70 years in women. The peak concentration of cholesterol and TG in the blood is noted between 40 and 60 years. Further, from 60 to 79 years, the concentration of cholesterol in the blood increases on average by 40 mg / dl( 1.04 mmol / l).

The average concentration of HDL-C in the blood in middle age women is 10 mg / dl( 0.26 mmol / L) higher than in men( average 55 mg / dL 1.43 mmol / l).This difference persists in postmenopausal women. But if before menopause the concentration of total cholesterol and LDL-C in women is lower, then after menopause it increases rapidly. Approximately to the age of the onset of menopause( 48-55 years), the average concentration of cholesterol in the blood in women increases more rapidly than in men, while the content of HDL-C and the LDL-C is increased. As a consequence, the incidence of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women is increasing. The total concentration of cholesterol in the blood during menopause increases by an average of 20%.

There are certain physiological patterns in the change in the content of HDL-XC in the blood. In men aged 60-79 years, the level of HDL-cholesterol in the blood is higher than at the age of 25-44 years and 45-59 years.

Fig. Age dynamics of the lipid profile

Fig. Age dynamics of lipid profile

In women aged after 70 years, the content of HDL-cholesterol in the blood is higher than in men of the same age.

With age, the proportion of HDL-cholesterol in the total amount of cholesterol is reduced. In women aged 25-34 years, the ratio of total cholesterol / HDL-cholesterol is 3.4, and by 75-89 years it has been elevated to 4.7.When this ratio exceeds 7.5, the risk of CHD in women becomes the same as in men. The optimal ratio is 3.5, while for 5 and more the risk is significantly increased. The change in the lipid profile with aging is shown in Fig.