Background: Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is a novel biomarker of central lipid accumulation related to the risk of
diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Consistent with physiologic observations, an alternative index uses waist
circumference (WC) and fasting triglycerides (TG) concentrations to describe lipid over accumulation.
Objective: Explore the association of LAP with anthropometric parameters and subclinical atherosclerosis in perimenopausal/
menopausal women with no evidence of established CVD.
Material and Method: The study was an observational cross-sectional study and included 130 perimenopausal/menopausal
participants. The anthropometric parameters used were height, weight, and WC. Laboratory lipid profile and LAP were calculated. High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography was performed to measure carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and to search for carotid atherosclerosis.
Results: One hundred thirty perimenopausal/menopausal women were studied. About 22.3% had an abnormal CIMT. The
percentages of normal weight, generalized obesity, and central obesity among study participants were 30.7%, 14.0%, and 55.3%, respectively. LAP was not correlated with CIMT and atherosclerosis. WC and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were correlated
with CIMT but were not correlated with atherosclerosis. The other parameters of LAP and body mass index were not predictive of carotid atherosclerosis. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, TG, and highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol were higher with LAP equal or greater than 34.5 than with LAP lower than 34.5. However, CIMT was not statistically different between the two LAP groups (p = 0.99).
Conclusion: Central lipid distribution in perimenopausal/menopausal women using anthropometric phenotype WC and WHR was correlated with higher CIMT values. Both LAP index and anthropometric phenotype were not helpful for identifying subclinical atherosclerosis defined by CIMT measurement equal or greater than 0.9 mm.

Keywords: Lipid accumulation product, Subclinical atherosclerosis, Perimenopausal women, Menopausal women