title: Trends in serum total cholesterol and dietary fat intakes in New Zealand between 1989 and 2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe trends in serum cholesterol and dietary fat intakes for New Zealand adults between 1989 and 2008/09.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum total cholesterol concentrations and dietary fat intakes were analysed for 9,346 New Zealanders aged 15-98 years (52% women) who participated in three national surveys in 1989, 1997 and 2008/09.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Population mean serum cholesterol decreased from 6.15 mmol/L in 1989 to 5.39 mmol/L in 2008/09. Mean saturated fat intake decreased from 15.9% of energy intake in 1989 to 13.1% in 2008/09. Between 1997 and 2008/09, unsaturated fat intake increased and fat from butter and milk decreased. Older adults had the largest decrease in serum cholesterol (1.35 mmol/L).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease in serum cholesterol is substantially larger than reported for many other high-income countries, and occurred in parallel with changes in dietary fat intakes and, for older adults, increased use of cholesterol-lowering medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the demonstrated role of reduced saturated fat intake on lowering serum cholesterol, and as population average serum cholesterol levels and saturated fat intakes exceed recommended levels, initiatives to further encourage reductions in saturated fat are imperative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jody C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jim I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Rachel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Winsome R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Parnell
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: C Murray
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Skeaff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: cholesterol; dietary fat; statins