Pregnancy cholesterol levels

Acid (CLA) in Late Pregnancy on Blood Thyroid Hormone and Cholesterol Levels in Pixels. J Animal Feed Sci. 11 651—659 (2002). 

Wartime rationing causing a considerable caloric restriction resulted in most cases in lower cholesterol levels, while the frequency of both atherosclerosis and toxemia of pregnancy was reduced. Obviously the qualitative changes in the diet cannot be neglected, and the reduced intake of animal... 

Experimental pyridoxine deficiency causes dental caries as well as atherosclerosis. Dental caries increase as a result of civilization and availability of refined and preserved food in general (see Scott, 1956). Wartime circumstances reduced dental caries (Toverud, 1956, 1957) as well as death from coronary sclerotic diseases and the incidence of toxemia of pregnancy. Cirrhosis of the liver has been mentioned also as a sequel of pyridoxine deficiency. The role of a deficiency of lipotropic factors such as choline, methionine, inositol, etc., in this respect has been known for a much longer time. Feeding of vitamin Bu can make the symptoms of atherosclerosis much worse (Annand, 1957). Pantothenic acid deficiency results in a lowering of the cholesterol level in man (Bean el al., 1955). 

The fetus can synthesize the steroid nucleus (B22, B23, R9, S24), and in this respect the fetal zone of the adrenal cortex in utero is very active. Its production is considerable and owing to a low activity of the enzyme 3/ -HSD (B23, C8, G2, G3, V6), is largely composed of 3 8-hydroxy-A steroids. There is evidence that 3j8-HSD is at least to some extent substrate specific (Bl, V5), and histochemical findings have shown that 3jS-HSD enzymes specific for certain substrates may be present and active in the fetal zone of the adrenal gland (Cl). The level of some of the 3/ -hydroxy-A steroids in fetal blood is higher than that of any other known steroid (cholesterol apart) in human blood at any time. Simmer and co-workers (S20) have indicated that about 75 mg of DHA are produced every 24 hours in late pregnancy and possibly even more 16a-OH-DHA (D9, M16). Certain of the steroids formed, notably DHA, are used by the placenta for estrogen production, but the role of many others remains to be elucidated. 

Elevated levels of cholesterol in normal pregnancy have been reported by many authors. Von Studnitz (1955), for instance, showed an increase of cholesterol values from 176 to 276 mg. %. The latter values may not be pathological, and data on populations where toxemia is rare are needed to... 

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