title: Determinants of plasma triglyceride levels in a multiethnic working class Caribbean population: effect of ethnicity, diet and obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Objective of the study is to identify the predictors of plasma triglycerides.
  
  
  METHODS
  A stratified random sample of university staff categories underwent measurements of anthropometry, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose, insulin, lipids, CRP and homocysteine. Dietary intakes were assessed using duplicate 24h recalls. HOMA-IR was calculated. Stepwise, multivariate regression analysis was performed with TAG as the dependent variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample (n=251) was 55% females with a mean age of 44.9±9.7 years. African ancestry comprised 43%, followed South Asian 30% and mixed ethnicity 27%. Prevalence of obesity was 19.4%, insulin resistance 22.7% and metabolic syndrome 21.6%. Males had significantly higher (p<0.01) triglycerides and VLDL and lower HDL than females. Africans had significantly lower triglycerides and cholesterol than South Asians and Mix. Triglycerides were significantly (p<0.01) correlated with glucose, cholesterol, insulin, CRP, systolic, diastolic blood pressure, WC, BMI, age and components of MS. Glucose, cholesterol, insulin and total energy intake predicted TAG, to varying extents, in all participants (R(2)=45.1%), males (R(2)=40.3%), females (R(2)=56.0%), Africans (R(2)=35.0%), TSA (R(2)=31.5%) and mix (R(2)=51.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Africans have lower triglycerides and cholesterol than South Asians and mix. Major predictors of triglycerides were fasting glucose and cholesterol independent of gender and ethnicity.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Unit, Department of Pre-clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: Dinesh Dan
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Ramdath
authors.forename: Shamjeet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Debbie G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hilaire
authors.forename: B Shivananda
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Nayak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D006710:Homocysteine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Anthropometry; Ethnicity; High density lipoproteins; Lipoproteins; Triglyceride; Very low density lipoproteins