Lower HDL-cholesterol among healthy middle-aged Japanese-Brazilians in São Paulo compared to Natives and Japanese-Brazilians in Japan

Abstract

Blood lipid levels are determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Higher than average values of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) have been observed in people of Japanese ethnicity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Japanese immigrants to Brazil and subsequent generations maintain the protective benefits associated with higher levels of HDL-cholesterol, and to examine the potential associations between HDL-cholesterol and a variety of other blood lipids, anthropometric and lifestyle factors. Healthy men and women aged 35 years and older who were Native Japanese (n = 198) or Japanese-Brazilians (JB) living in São Paulo, Brazil (n = 198) and in some Japanese cities (n = 246) were investigated. Anthropometric variables, blood lipids including HDL-cholesterol, and lifestyle factors were assessed. Serum HDL-cholesterol was observed to be lower for JB in São Paulo (both women and men) compared with Natives and JB in Japan. Among the groups, triglycerides, waist circumference, LDL-cholesterol, meat intake, stress, and smoking were observed to be independently negatively associated with HDL-cholesterol, whereas total cholesterol, fish intake, and physical activity were positively associated. Lower levels of HDL-cholesterol among both men and women of JB in São Paulo compared with both other groups were confirmed even after lifestyle adjustments. Our findings highlight the significantly lower levels of HDL-cholesterol among Japanese-Brazilians living in São Paulo city compared to Japanese-Brazilians and Native Japanese residing in Japan. Although several lifestyle factors were found to be significantly associated with HDL-cholesterol, they cannot adequately explain the role of the Brazilian cultural environment on HDL-cholesterol levels.

Comparison of plasma levels of obesity-related biomarkers among Japanese populations in Tokyo, Japan, São Paulo, Brazil, and Hawaii, USA

“…We found significantly higher plasma HDL cholesterol levels and lower plasma triglycerides levels in Japanese in Tokyo than in the other two populations, as mentioned above. These findings are consistent with two previous reports ( Tsugane et al , 1994 ; Schwingel et al , 2007 ). However, we did not observe significant differences in total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol between Japanese in Tokyo and Japanese Brazilians.…”

Metabolic changes in immigrants from Africa to a Western country: time‐lag effects of 20 years since immigration 从非洲迁到一个西方国家后移民的代谢变化：从迁移开始的20年滞后效应

“…In contrast, elevated blood triglyceride and decreased blood HDLc levels are more strongly related to obesity and physical activity and are considered an integral component of the metabolic syndrome . Low HDLc levels have been described in African and other populations that typically ingest a diet low in fat. The adoption of a new diet with a higher fat content might possibly account for the paradoxical increase in blood HDLc levels seen in our immigrant groups.…”

Differentiation of African Components of Ancestry to Stratify Groups in a Case–Control Study of a Brazilian Urban Population

“…EuropeanAmerican admixture started soon after the arrival of the first Portuguese colonizers in 1500, followed by *3.5 million slave-traded Africans in the middle of the 16th century brought as forced labor in gold and diamond mines or sugarcane and coffee plantations (Pimenta et al, 2006). At the end of the 19th century immigration, mainly by Portuguese colonizers, was expanded to four million individuals from several other regions, especially from Italy, Spain, Germany, and Japan (Schwingel et al, 2007).…”