Estimation of Cholesterol Level During Pregnancy

Normally pregnancy especially at late gestation associated with metabolic changes, like changes in maternal storage of adipose tissue, hormonal secretions and lipoproteins concentrations. Cholesterol level is one of these maternal modifications during pregnancy, this maternal adaptation is to ensure fetal growth. 131 pregnant women aged (20- more than 40) years were chosen randomly, to estimate their fasting blood cholesterol every month of gestation. Total cholesterol was determined by colorimetric method which depends on extracting cholesterol by ethyl alcohol and producing coloured compound, which measured by spectrophotometer.
Elevation of blood total cholesterol was noticed during pregnancy. This increase of total cholesterol started from 3rd month up to term.