BACKGROUND

Men have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) early in life, while women have a higher risk later in life. The sex-related differences in CVD risk, especially by age, could be related to sphingolipid metabolism. We compared plasma sphingolipid concentrations and its increase by age in men and women.

METHODS

Plasma concentrations of 13 types of sphingolipids were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in a random subsample of 328 men and 372 women of Dutch and South-Asian Surinamese ethnic origin, participating in the HELIUS study. Sphingolipid concentrations were compared between men and women by age group (18-39, 40-55, and 56-70 years). Multiple linear regression was used to determine sex differences in age trends in sphingolipids stratified by ethnicity. Analyses were performed without adjustment and adjusted for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.

RESULTS

At age 18-39 years, sphingolipid concentrations were lower in women than those in men, but at age 56-70 years this was reversed. At higher age, women showed higher concentrations than men. In line, we observed a more rapid increase of sphingolipid concentrations by age in women than in men. The observed sex differences were not explained by BMI or waist circumference. Patterns of sex differences were similar across ethnic groups, although the strength of associations differed.

CONCLUSIONS

Mean sphingolipid concentrations increase more rapidly with age in women than in men. Therefore, plasma lipid concentrations of sphingolipids, although lower in women than in men at younger age, are higher in women than in men at older age.