Cholesterol levels may change with seasonal fluctuations

March 9, 2013
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According to a study by the State University of Campinas (Brazil), “Cholesterol levels may change with seasonal fluctuations causing an increased risk in the winter months, as evidenced by the investigation.”

The study was presented at the Annual Cinetífica LXII Session of the American College of Cardiology, and demonstrates that “the prevalence of cholesterol is regulated by a similar pattern that heart attacks and deaths related to them, they also increase in the winter”.

According to Dr. Filipe Moura Brazilian university center and lead author of the study, “cholesterol and triglyceride levels vary significantly during the year, which may lead to misinterpretation of the actual cardiovascular risk of a person. Therefore, some patients may be at greater risk than they realize.”

“I do not mean they should undergo medical checks continuously, even if monitoring is required by the doctors.”

To get there, researchers prospectively evaluated the lipid profile of 227,359 people.

And it was found that “low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol increased by an average of seven milligrams during the winter compared to the summer”, and scientists say that “this figure translates into an increase of eight percent in the prevalence of cholesterol during these months. “

Moura explains: “These fluctuations may be even more pronounced in the United States, Europe or other regions experiencing more extreme weather changes between winter and summer.” To this also affect “the exercise and dietary habits.”