A comparative study of serum lipids between Belgium and Korea.

Serum cholesterol values are markedly lower in Korea than in Belgium in both males and females. This is attributed to the much lower consumption of saturated fat in Korea. A mean population serum cholesterol value of about 160 mg/dl appears to be compatible with excellent general health and with the absence of ischemic heart disease or other atheromatous diseases. The influence of age, height and weight on cholesterol between Belgium and Korea is qualitatively similar but quantitatively different. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol values are lower in Korea than in Belgium, particularly in females. Differences in the HDL cholesterol level thus cannot explain the low prevalence of ischemic heart disease in Korea.

The pattern of food and mortality in Belgium.

Belgians have been gradually shifting from a low ratio of polyunsaturated/saturated fat in their food to a higher one with lower total fat and cholesterol. This has occurred predominantly in the north, where the most obvious change is a decrease in butter consumption and an increase in margarine consumption. The northerners have a four to five times smaller intake of butter than the southerners and nearly double the intake of margarine. Evidence gathered over the past ten years reveals in the north a decreasing serum-cholesterol and in the south a significantly higher serum-cholesterol, associated with higher coronary morbidity and mortality. Life expectancy of males in the north is 2-4 years higher at birth and 2-2 years higher at the age of 30. It is concluded that the food habits of a population can be changed, with great benefit.

The effect of anticonvulsant therapy on serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, calcium, and parathyroid hormone.

In 20 female patients treated for 2 to 37 years (mean :12) with anticonvulsant drugs, low serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-OH-D; 6.4 +/- 3.2 ng/ml M +/- SD), relative hypocalcemia (9.2 +/- 0.4 mg/100 ml) and high levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH 277 +/- 165 pg/ml) were found compared to an age-matched control group (respectively 8.6 +/- 3.2 ng/ml, 9.6 +/- 0.3 mg/100 ml and 183 +/- 95 pg/ml) living in the same psychiatric clinic. A significant negative correlation was found between total duration of treatment and either serum 25-OH-D or serum calcium. After treatment with an oral vitamin D3 supplement (2000 IU/day) for 3 weeks, the serum 25-OH-D levels, although increased, remained lower than normal in the epileptic group and neither hypocalcemia nor their secondary hyperparathyroidism were corrected. These data confirm the occurrence of vitamin D deficiency in patients treated with anticonvulsant drugs resulting in hypocalcemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism.