El colesterol sanguíneo y la dieta de los Chilenos / Cholesterol in the blood and Chilean diet

ABSTRACT

1) The possibility that atherosclerosis may be prevented through changes in diet fully justifies the great interest in research on the relationship between diet and the blood lipids and between these and atherosclerosis. Most epidemiological observations, animal experiments, and clinical examination s show that there is a relationship between the total blood cholesterol and the following dietary factors calories; percentage of calories contributed by fats; the degree of saturation of these fats; percentage of calories contributed by animal protein and by non-cellulose glucids. 2) In order to ascertain the normal cholesterol level among the Chilean population, the technique devised by Abell and collaborators was used to study 482 normal persons between the ages of 15 and 64 years; in 467 of these cases simultaneous study was made of their diet by the quantified consumption technique. Cholesterolemia in the blood of the umbilical chord was also determined in 183 normal newly born babies. 3) The Chilean is born with a cholesterol level of 95 mg. percent, which increases with age; it is 156.5 mg. percent in males from 15 to 24 years of age, and reaches 209 mg. percent in the decade between 45 and 54 years. In women the figures are 102, 155 and 221.9 mg. percent for the same ages. A "normal cholesterol curve" rather than asingle figure for each age group is suggested