RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare red blood cell (RBC) fatty acid composition, plasma lipids and lipoproteins and dietary intake between urban and rural Melanesian Fijians. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed in a random subsample (n = 154) from a total survey population of 589 subjects. SETTING: Melanesian Fijians living in the relatively urban settlement of Nabua, Suva and On the remote island of Qamea (rural) were studied. RESULTS: The proportions of myristic acid (1.4% versus 0.3%, P < 0.001) and arachidonic acid (10.1% versus 11.4%, P < 0.01) were significantly higher and proportions of oleic acid (14.4% versus 13.2%, P < 0.05) and linoleic acid (11.9% versus 8.1%, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in RBC from rural compared with urban men, and a similar pattern was seen in women. Plasma cholesterol levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the rural subjects. Urban/rural differences in plasma cholesterol levels were not significant when the proportion of RBC myristate was taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that consumption of myristic acid from coconut fat is greater and the intake of linoleic acid is less in Fijians living on a remote island and may contribute to their higher plasma cholesterol levels compared with their urban counterparts.
Assuntos
Eritrócitos/química , Ácidos Graxos/sangue , População Rural , População Urbana , Adolescente , Adulto , Antropometria , População Negra , Estudos Transversais , Dieta , Feminino , Humanos , Lipídeos/sangue , Masculino , Melanesia , Ácidos Mirísticos/sangueAssuntos
População Negra , Pressão Sanguínea , Estatura , Peso Corporal , Lipoproteínas/sangue , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Doenças Cardiovasculares/epidemiologia , Feminino , Fiji , Humanos , Hipertensão/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Risco , População Rural , População UrbanaRESUMO
A review of 100 cases of acute myocardial infarction admitted to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in 1964-65 is presented. The incidence of acute myocardial infarction in this series was 97 percent in Indians and 3 percent in Fijians. The predisposing factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia are commoner in Indians than Fijians and their role in these patients are described. The mortality rate in the first week was 23.7 percent. A two bed coronary care unit was opened in this hospital last year as part of the overall care for these patients.
