ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The leading cause of mortality in Spain are cardiovascular diseases. Their prevention largely depends on the control of hypercholesterolemia. The aim of this study is to describe the serum concentration of total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDLc), LDL-cholesterol (LDLc) and triglycerides in the population of Catalonia (Spain). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We obtained a representative sample of the catalan population 18-75 years-old in 1993. The concentrations of HDLc was analyzed after precipitation, the concentration of TC and triglycerides was obtained by enzimatic methods, and the concentration of LDLc was calculated using the Friedewald formula. RESULTS: We obtained a sample of 487 women and 393 men (participation rate: 38%). The mean concentrations of TC, LDLc, HDLc and triglycerides was, respectively, of 203.9 mg/dl (SD = 39.7 mg/dl) (5.24 mmol/l, SD = 1.02 mmol/l), 127.5 mg/dl (SD = 35.9 mg/dl) (3.28 mmol/l, SD = 0.92 mmol/l), 55.8 mg/dl (SD = 14.0 mg/dl) (1.45 mmol/l, SD = 0.36 mmol/l) and 103.9 mg/dl (SD = 75.4 mg/dl) (1.15 mmol/l, SD = 0.84 mmol/l). Nineteen percent of the sample had a concentration of TC > 240 mg/dl (6.42 mmol/l), 3.0% a concentration of HDLc < 35 mg/dl (0.91 mmol/l), 17.2% a concentration of LDL > 160 mg/dl (4.11 mmol/l) and 7.4% a concentration of triglycerides > 7.4 mg/dl (2.22 mmol/l). The concentrations of LDLc and triglycerides and the atherogenic index (TC/HDLc) were higher in men than in women and they increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: The cholesterol levels could be considered lower in Catalonia, Spain, than in other developed countries, and there is a tendency to decrease accordingly to the decrease in the cardiovascular mortality rates. However, the lipid profile in men older than 35 years and in women older than 50 years is still a cause of concern.
Subject(s)
Cholesterol/blood , Nutritional Status , Triglycerides/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , SpainABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have demonstrated that unfiltered coffee increases cholesterolemia. In Spain, filtered coffee is mainly consumed and its effect on cholesterolemia is controversial. METHODS: The relationship between coffee intake and the serum levels of total cholesterol was transversally studied in a population of 609 women between 18 to 65 years in age. The questionnaire and analyses were carried out in the context of periodic health examination. RESULTS: The consumption of coffee was positively associated with cholesterolemia in subjects under 30 years of age (p < 0.01) and in the group from 30 to 45 years in age (p < 0.05). This association was found to be statistically significant on multivariant analysis (multiple lineal regression) after adjusting for age, body mass index, cholesterol consumed in the diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Coffee was found to increase cholesterolemia in the female population and therefore a reduction in coffee intake would be recommendable in hypercholesterolemic subjects.
Subject(s)
Cholesterol/blood , Coffee/adverse effects , Women, Working , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Alcohol Drinking , Body Mass Index , Female , Humans , Linear Models , Middle Aged , Physical Exertion , Spain , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To analyze the relation between the degree of glycemic control and the lipoprotein profile in type I diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Seventy-five diabetics were studied in whom the total glycohemoglobin (GHb), total triglycerides (TG), triglycerides of very low density lipoproteins (TG-VLDL), total cholesterol (TC), cholesterol of very low density lipoproteins (C-VLDL), cholesterol of high density lipoproteins (c-HDL), apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI) and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) were determined. Patients were classified according to their GHb: less than 9% (good glycemic control), 9-11% (moderate glycemic control) and greater than 11% (bad glycemic control). There was homogeneity in the 3 groups with regards to other variables which influenced the lipoprotein profile. RESULTS: The concentrations of TG, TG-VLDL, TC, C-VLDL and C-LDL were significantly higher in the groups of greater GHb while those of C-HDL, Apo I and Apo B were independent of the degree of glycemic control. The number of patients whose lipid profiles may be considered as atherogenic risk increases progressively in groups with greater GHb. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type I diabetes mellitus, bad glycemic control is accompanied by decreases in TG, TC and C-LDL up to a magnitude which frequently reaches risk values for developing vascular disease. However, in these subjects, a less protector effect dependent on C-HDL is not to be expected since their concentrations are similar to those patients with good glycemic control.
