Figure 3.

Mean plasma lipid concentrations measured throughout normal pregnancies. Healthy pregnancies typically show HDL cholesterol increases from 60–70 mg/dL in the late first trimester, and these levels decrease to below 60 mg/dL at the end of gestation (103). Low density lipoprotein cholesterol gradually increases across gestation from around 86–126 mg/dL (103). Triglycerides increase in the beginning of the second trimester, from around 130 mg/dL, and increase until the end of gestation to approximately 280 mg/dL (103). Total cholesterol increases from approximately 180 mg/dL at the end of the first trimester to around 230 mg/dL at the end of the third trimester (103). Image was adapted from Bao et al. Plasma concentrations of lipids during pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a longitudinal study. J Diabetes. 2018;10(6):487–495.