Changes in Lipid Levels among Inhabitants of a Small Fishing Village in Shimane Over a 4-year Period / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between age and changes in serum lipid levels during a period of 4 years in a Japanese fishing village.<BR>Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured in inhabitants (53 males and 130 females) of the Chibu Village on Oki Island, Shimane in 1988 and again in 1992. The subjects were divided into four age groups of respectively, 40-49 years (n=30), 50-59 years (n=35), 60-90 years (n=65), and 70 years or over (n=53).<BR>TC and TG levels did not change in any age group over the 4-year interval. However, the HDL-C level increased significantly in men aged 40-49 years, women aged 50-59 years, and women aged 60-69 years.<BR>There are no differences of TC in men and women in 1988 and 1992. TG in men aged over 70 years was significantly lower than that in women aged over 70 years in 1988, but TG in men aged 40-49 years was significantly higher than that in women aged 40-49 years in 1992.HDL-C in men aged 40-49 years in 1988 and 50-59 years in 1992 was significantly lower than that in women aged 40-49 years in 1988 and 50-59 years in 1992.<BR>The body mass index (BMI) was significantly positively correlated with TC in 1988, and positively correlated with TG and negatively correlated with HDL-C in both 1988 and 1992.<BR>In this small Japanese fishing village, we found TC and TG did not increase with age, but HDL-C increased with age. Our results suggest that high TG and low HDL-C are important factors in causing obesity.