Serum Lipids in the Peopleʼs Republic of China: Comparison of Western and Eastern Populations

Serum cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels were measured in an urban and a rural population of the Peopleʼs Republic of China and compared with cholesterol values obtained in Belgium and in the Republic of Korea, with use of the same methodology. Total cholesterol levels were markedly lower In the Peopleʼs Republic of China than in Belgium and generally lower than in Korea, both in male and female subjects. However, the differences In HDL cholesterol levels among the three populations were small in males and only significantly higher in Belgium in the age classes below 34 years. In women of all age groups, HDL cholesterol values were significantly higher In Belgium than in China and Korea. Total cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dl were found In the Peopleʼs Republic of China in about 2% of the participants. Apolipoprotein B was significantly lower, and the apolipoprotein A,/B ratio was significantly higher, In China and Korea compared to Belgium.