Lifestyle determinants of HDL 2- and HDL 3-cholesterol levels in a hypercholesterolemic male population

Abstract

In this cross-sectional study we investigated the role of lifestyle and other factors in determining serum HDL 2- and HDL 3-cholesterol levels among 82 dyslipidemic (total cholesterol minus HDL-cholesterol ≥ 5.2 mmol/1) middle-aged participants of the Helsinki Heart Study. Alcohol consumption correlated positively with both subfractions of HDL-cholesterol, while leisure time physical activity had a significant correlation with the HDL 3-subfraction only. HDL levels were lower in smokers than in non-smokers but the differences were not statistically significant. Using the multiple linear regression model, alcohol consumption emerged as the only significant factor influencing both HDL cholesterol subfraction levels. Leisure time physical activity had an independent contribution to HDL 3-level, but lifestyle variables other than alcohol consumption did not contribute significantly to HDL 2-cholesterol level. The model incorporating alcohol consumption, physical activity, smoking and relative body weight explained 13.4% of the variation in HDL 2 and 17.5% in HDL 3-cholesterol.