Plasma Lipid and Lipoprotein Levels in a Danish Population

Abstract

A study of the plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations has been carried out in 373 persons (179 women and 194 men) including 56 obese persons (24 women and 32 men) and 26 women treated with sex hormones, mainly for contraceptive purposes. The technique for quantitative lipoprotein electrophoresis described by the authors in previous papers was used. The technique was compared with other methods and found reliable. Increasing lipid and lipoprotein level with age was demonstrated; but while this increase continued in women, the increase in men ceased at about the age of 45. The levels of triglycerides and pre‐β‐lipoproteins were found to be higher in men than in women, while phospholipids and α‐lipoproteins were higher in women. Cholesterol and β‐lipoproteins were higher in women aged 11–20 years and over 50 years than in men in the corresponding age groups. Higher levels of triglycerides and pre‐β‐lipoproteins were found in obese than in non‐obese persons regardless of sex. An observation not described before was a lower α‐lipoprotein concentration in obese than in non‐obese women. No significant influence of contraceptive sex hormone intake on the lipid and lipoprotein levels could be demonstrated.