COMPARISON OF ERYTHROCYTE AND PLASMA LIPID PROFILE OF PREGNANT NIGERIAN WOMEN IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The erythrocyte and plasma lipid profile of pregnant Nigerian women attending ante natal clinic was investigated. The study group consisted of pregnant women receiving ante natal care in the Central Hospital, Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria. Blood samples were obtained from 240 pregnant women of varying ages (21 - 40 years), gestation ages, parity and social status as well as 10 control non-pregnant women. Plasma and erythrocyte levels of total cholesterol (TC) were determined using the CHOD-PAP method. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDLC) were estimated with the Friedwald equation and triacylglycerides (TG) were determined using GPO-POD enzymatic colorimetric method. The results showed significant (P<0.05) increase in the plasma cholesterol (194.00±7.03 mg/dl) and triglycerides (168.67±6.95 mg/dl) when compared to control (154.00±11.95 mg/dl for cholesterol and 64.83±4.47 mg/dl for triglycerides). Plasma lipid profile increased with increasing maternal age with no general trend observed for erythrocyte lipid profile. Gestational age and parity did not seem to correlate significantly with lipid profile. Hyperlipidaemia was observed to be more associated with lower social status however plasma HDLC was found to increase with increasing social status. Erythrocyte total cholesterol was elevated in pregnant women (151.76±9.25 mg/dl) with significant reduction in its triglyceride level (110.36±9.01) when compared to control (140.00±20.00 for total cholesterol and 188.52±18.74 for triglycerides). We conclude that plasma lipid levels are elevated during pregnancy with no well-defined pattern in the erythrocytes