Lipid patterns and dietary habits of healthy subjects living in urban, suburban and rural areas.
Lipid patterns were determined in 167 healthy subjects in the age group 28 to 50 years living in an urban area, a suburban area and two rural areas to determine a possible relationship between their serum lipid patterns and food habits. Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations were determined in the sera of fasting subjects, and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol concentration was calculated. Risk of coronary heart disease as assessed by the body mass index, ratios of total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol, was significantly lower in subjects in rural area 2, who were agricultural workers with a high degree of physical activity, subsisting on a diet consisting mainly of plant food, despite a higher consumption of coconut, a saturated fat. It is possible that the hypercholesterolaemic effect of saturated fats was mitigated by the high fibre content of their diets.
Atukorala
T M
TM
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
Jayawardene
M I
MI
D000328:Adult; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D013188:Sri Lanka; D013383:Suburban Population; D014505:Urban Population
D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids