Seasonal variation in serum cholesterol levels: treatment implications and possible mechanisms
Authors
Ockene, Ira S.Chiriboga, David E.
Stanek, Edward J. III
Harmatz, Morton G.
Nicolosi, Robert J.
Saperia, Gordon M.
Well, Arnold D.
Freedson, Patty S.
Merriam, Philip A.
Reed, George W.
Ma, Yunsheng
Matthews, Charles E.
Hebert, James R.
UMass Chan Affiliations
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral MedicineDepartment of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Document Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2004-04-26Keywords
AdultCholesterol
Cholesterol, HDL
Cholesterol, LDL
Female
Hemodilution
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
*Periodicity
*Seasons
Triglycerides
United States
Behavioral Disciplines and Activities
Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Preventive Medicine
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
BACKGROUND: A variety of studies have noted seasonal variation in blood lipid levels. Although the mechanism for this phenomenon is not clear, such variation could result in larger numbers of people being diagnosed as having hypercholesterolemia during the winter. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal study of seasonal variation in lipid levels in 517 healthy volunteers from a health maintenance organization serving central Massachusetts. Data collected during a 12-month period for each individual included baseline demographics and quarterly anthropometric, blood lipid, dietary, physical activity, light exposure, and behavioral information. Data were analyzed using sinusoidal regression modeling techniques. RESULTS: The average total cholesterol level was 222 mg/dL (5.75 mmol/L) in men and 213 mg/dL (5.52 mmol/L) in women. Amplitude of seasonal variation was 3.9 mg/dL (0.10 mmol/L) in men, with a peak in December, and 5.4 mg/dL (0.14 mmol/L) in women, with a peak in January. Seasonal amplitude was greater in hypercholesterolemic participants. Seasonal changes in plasma volume explained a substantial proportion of the observed variation. Overall, 22% more participants had total cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or greater (> or =6.22 mmol/L) in the winter than in the summer. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms seasonal variation in blood lipid levels and suggests greater amplitude in seasonal variability in women and hypercholesterolemic individuals, with changes in plasma volume accounting for much of the variation. A relative plasma hypervolemia during the summer seems to be linked to increases in temperature and/or physical activity. These findings have implications for lipid screening guidelines. Further research is needed to better understand the effects of a relative winter hemoconcentration.Source
Arch Intern Med. 2004 Apr 26;164(8):863-70. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1001/archinte.164.8.863Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/44957PubMed ID
15111372Related Resources
Link to article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1001/archinte.164.8.863