Table 1. Characteristics Of The Study Population.

Variable	Premenopausal women (n 5 100)		Postmenopausal women (n 5 100)
	Mean	SD	Mean	SD
Waist circumference (cm)**	84.8	3.2	88.6	2.8
Body mass index (kg/m2)*	22.4	2.6	23.2	2.2
Waist−hip ratio***	0.88	0.04	0.93	0.07
Total cholesterol (mg/dl)*	205.4	16.4	218.0	18.6
Triglycerides (mg/dl)**	108.2	14.4	122.4	16.3
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mg/dl)*	45.2	4.6	43.6	4.2
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mg/dl) ***	127.4	20.2	136.2	22.2
Fasting plasma glucose (mg/dl)***	102.4	12.6	123.0	14.3
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)***	134.5	18.0	145.0	17.4
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)**	82.4	13.4	87.6	14.6

Premenopausal women, mean age 5 40.2 ± 6.5 years; postmenopausal women, mean age 5 55.4 ± 5.2 years.

Significant group (age adjusted) differences at *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.