Serum cholesterol and dietary data in middle-aged white males
Rossouw, D.J.; Engelbrecht, F.M.; Fourie, J.J.; van Heerden, L.E.
South African Medical Journal 51(4): 91-94
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 841438 Document Number: 117924
Men 40 to 59 years old who had completed the diet survey of NAR 46, 483 were 22 with normal serum cholesterol, mean 212.3 mg/100 ml, and 22 with high values, mean 282.7, a significant difference. There was no significant difference in age, bodyweight or bodyweight/ideal bodyweight. A table gives for each group the mean daily intake of energy, nutrients and caffeine. The group with high serum cholesterol had a higher intake of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and a higher proportion of total energy intake from PUFA. There was no difference between groups in intake of total fat, protein, carbohydrate or cholesterol. For all 44 men, serum cholesterol and nutrient intakes were less closely related and only the proportion of total energy from PUFA was significantly related to serum cholesterol.Statistical analysis showed that PUFA, total protein and saturated fatty acid intakes had the highest cumulative effect on serum cholesterol. Only 29% of the variation in serum cholesterol was explained by the first 6 of the 30 dietary variables tested. Small differences in nutritional status between persons in a homogeneous sample, and the fact that non-linear relations would not be reflected in the correlation coefficient, made it difficult to establish significant relations between diet and serum cholesterol.