Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is related to androgenicity and cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women

Objectives

To investigate whether lipid accumulation product (LAP) is related to androgen and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels and to cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women with no evidence of established cardiovascular disease.

Study design

Cross-sectional study.

Main outcome measures

LAP (waist-58 × triglycerides nmol/L]), LAP ≥ arbitrary cutoff point of 34.5, serum testosterone, SHBG, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (us-CRP).

Results

Forty-nine women (mean age 55 ± 5 years; median amenorrhea time 5.5 years 3–8]) were studied: 14% had the metabolic syndrome and 24.5% were hypertensive. Compared with LAP < 34.5, LAP ≥ 34.5 (n = 29, 59%) was associated with higher testosterone (p = 0.021) and free androgen index (FAI) (p = 0.003) and lower SHBG levels (p = 0.013). Us-CRP (p = 0.012), total cholesterol (p = 0.041), glucose (p = 0.020) and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) (p = 0.019) were higher, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p = 0.001) was lower with LAP ≥ 34.5. LAP was positively correlated with total testosterone (r = 0.349, p = 0.014), FAI (rs = 0.470, p = 0.001), us-CRP (r = 0.315, p = 0.042), systolic (r = 0.318, p = 0.028) and diastolic (r = 0.327, p = 0.023) blood pressure, total cholesterol (r = 0.498, p < 0.001) and glucose (rs = 0.319, p = 0.026). LAP was negatively correlated with SHBG (rs = −0.430, p = 0.003) and HDL-C (r = −0.319, p = 0.026).

Conclusions

LAP index seems to be associated with androgens and SHBG and with cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women. Also, LAP seems to be a suitable method to screen for cardiovascular risk in postmenopause.