Hyper-low density lipoproteinemia in United States Air Force recruits.

Abstract

Six hundred and three selected, lean, healthy United States Air Force recruits, ranging from age 18 to 22, were screened for hyperlipoproteinemia shortly after military induction. There were 307 men and 296 women. Mean plasma lipid levels were lower than generally observed in the population at large: cholesterol = 139 ± 39 ( sd ) mg%; low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol = 86 ± 40 mg%; high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol = 59 ± 23 mg%; total plasma triglyceride (TG) = 40 ± 17 mg%. The low total plasma cholesterol was largely attributed to the LDL cholesterol fraction. White women had lower total and LDL cholesterol levels ( P < 0.01) than men, but no other significant sex or race differences were observed. Twenty-six individuals (4.3%) had values for either one or both total plasma cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations above the limits arbitrarily established for this group and are regarded as having hyper-low density lipoproteinemia. More individuals were identified as abnormal by a determination of total plasma and LDL cholesterol levels than by measuring total plasma cholesterol alone. No other lipoprotein abnormalities were observed. The lipid concentrations observed in these lean, healthy, young subjects are probably a reflection of ideal values around age 20.