Diet and Lipid Profile of Menopausal Women as Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease has emerged out as a leading cause of death. Women after menopause are equally at risk of CVDs as men. Risk factors of CVD among the women (45 - 65 years) who have attained menopause were studied. Information on general background, nutritional risk factors like anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist to hip ratio and BMI) and dietary intake as well as non nutritional risk factors like blood pressure, pulse rate, family history of cardiovascular disease, smoking habit, exercise pattern and stress level and lipid profile was taken. Results revealed that correct weight for height and normal BMI were found only in 28.33 and 33.33 percent subjects. Intake of fat, calcium and thiamin were higher while diets were low in energy, iron, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C. Total cholesterol, LDL-C and VLDL-C were higher than normal values and found to be positively associated with fat intake.