Coronary artery calcification and dietary cholesterol intake in Korean men.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to examine the relationship between dietary cholesterol intake and coronary artery calcification (CAC) score in healthy men.


METHODS
Electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) was used to examine the CAC score in 135 Korean men aged 40-81 years who did not have clinical illness. Dietary cholesterol intake was assessed by a nutritionist using a semiquantitative food frequency method. Body mass index (BMI), serum lipid levels, cigarette use, alcohol intake, exercise, and a past history of cardiovascular disease were determined during interview and examination.


RESULTS
The resultant median CAC score among those who experienced CAC was 22.5 (1-697) and average intakes of total fat and cholesterol were 22.4% (13.8-40.7) of total energy intake and 306.0 mg/day (84-1191). When the participants were classified into high (> or = 75 percentile) and low (< 75 percentile) CAC score groups, multiple logistic analysis showed that the cholesterol intake (per 10 mg/1000 kcal of energy) was significantly related to a high CAC score (OR 1.12: 95% CI 1.02-1.24), after adjustment for age, BMI, serum triglyceride level, past history of hypertension, past history of hyperlipidaemia, and energy intake. Also, when participants were classified into 2 groups (CAC score > or = 100 vs. < 100), cholesterol intake was found to be significantly related to CAC score. However, fatty acid intakes were not significantly related to the CAC score.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that in a population with a relatively low risk of coronary heart disease, higher cholesterol intake may increase the level of CAC.
Oh
Kyung Won
KW
Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Nam
Chung Mo
CM
Jee
Sun Ha
SH
Choe
Kyu Ok
KO
Suh
Il
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000208:ethnology*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary