Serum Lipids and their Correlates in Chinese Urban and Rural Populations of Beijing and Guangzhou

Abstract

In 1983 and 1984, surveys were conducted in four Chinese population samples, urban and rural for both Beijing and Guangzhou, as part of PRC-USA collaborative research in cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary epidemiology. Serum total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) were measured in 4280 men and 4695 women aged 35-54 years, in laboratories standardized by the US Centers for Disease Control. Age-adjusted mean serum TC was higher in urban than rural samples and generally higher in Beijing than Guangzhou, ranging from 155 mg/dL for Guangzhou rural women to 187 mg/dl for Guangzhou urban women. Group mean values of HDL-C varied from 48 to 59 mg/dl, higher in Beijing than Guangzhou, and higher in women than men. TC/HDL-C ratio ranged from 3.05 to 3.82. Serum TG values were higher for Beijing than Guangzhou; the lowest group mean values of 78 mg/dl and 75 mg/dl were in rural Guangzhou men and women. Mean body mass index (BMI) was uniformly low, ranging from 20 kg/m2 for rural Guangzhou to 24 kg/m2 for urban Beijing. Multiple regression analyses showed that BMI was positively and independently related to serum TC, LDL-C, TG, and TC/HDL-C, and inversely related to HDL-C. Smoking was positively related in both sexes to TG and TC/HDL-C, and inversely related to HDL-C. Smoking was also positively related to TC and LDL-C in men. In men, alcohol was positively related to TC and HDL-C, and was inversely related to TG and TC/HDL-C. Heavy manual work was inversely related to TC, LDL-C, and TC/HDL-C in men, but not related to lipids in women. Thus, for these Chinese population samples, despite their lower serum TC and BMI, the correlates of serum lipids are similar to those in western populations. These variables accounted for only part of the observed urban-rural and north-south differences in serum lipids among these Chinese population samples. The significance of the relatively low serum TC and TG and high HDL-C in relation to low cardiovascular disease in Chinese populations is the object of further investigation in follow-up studies.

Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Dyslipidemia among Adults in Beijing, China

“…Overall, 35.4% of participants had dyslipidemia (including high TC, high LDL-C, low HDL-C, high TG, or self-reported current use of anti-dyslipidemia medications). Our findings, together with other studies 5,18,19) , confirmed that the prevalence of dyslipidemia is increasing in China. For example, in a cross-sectional study among 6412 rural hypertensives aged ≥ 35years, 37.2% had dyslipidemia 5) .…”

Plasma lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels in Taipei and Framingham.

“…China populations than in a Belgian population. 37 In the People's Republic of China (PRC) -U S A Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Epidemiology Study, Tao et al 38 report serum lipids from Chinese aged 35 to 54 years in urban and rural populations in Beijing and Guangzhou. After correction by a factor of 1.03 for the serum-plasma difference, Taipei men had higher total cholesterol, LDL-C, and trigryceride levels than urban Beijing men; however, they had similar HDL-C values.…”

Familial hypercholesterolemia in China. Identification of mutations in the LDL-receptor gene that result in a receptor-negative phenotype.

“…This may be due in part to the beneficial effects of a Chinese diet, which results in a low mean plasma cholesterol concentration and a low incidence of CHD in the general population. 7 - 8 However, in Japan heterozygous FH is a relatively common clinical disorder that is associated with a high incidence of premature CHD despite the same apparent protective effect of the traditional Japanese diet on the general population. 910 In this study we have examined whether the nature of the mutation or mutations in the LDL-receptor gene that cause FH in China can provide an explanation for their apparently minimal impact on plasma cholesterol levels and coronary disease in heterozygous individuals.…”