High density lipoprotein and total serum cholesterol levels in a group of British Columbia native Indians

Abstract

High density lipoprotein (HDL) and total serum cholesterol levels were evaluated in 202 members of the Nuxalk Nation, a native Indian people residing on the British Columbia (B.C.) coast. Cholesterol was measured enzymically in non-fasting serum, and HDL cholesterol was measured following precipitation of verylow and low-density lipoproteins with polyethylene glycol. Cholesterol levels averaged 202.6±45.7 mg/dl, and HDL cholesterol levels averaged 57.5±17.3 mg/dl. As expected, cholesterol levels were positively correlated with both age (r=.524, p<.001) and body mass index (r=.395, p<.001), and HDL cholesterol correlated negatively with body mass index (r=−.205, p<.01). An unexpected result of the study was that HDL cholesterol levels in Nuxalk men were not different from those in women, but were higher than average values for male Caucasians. This observation could not be explained on the basis of data obtained in this study; it may be a factor in the low coronary mortality rate for B.C. registered Indians.