Correlates of Serum High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol: A Community-Based Study of Middle-Aged and Older Men and Women in Japan

Abstract

The authors examined the relationships of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol with sex, age, body composition, and lifestyle related factor including dietary patterns, alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity in a community-based sample from Mie prefecture, Japan. The study population comprised of 463 men (65.7±8.6 years) and 845 women (61.9±10.1 years) who participated in an annual healthy examination and a lifestyle related survey in 2001. Using factor analysis based on data from the lifestyle-related questionnaires, three dietary patterns were identified: prudent, Western, and high-salt dietary patterns. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that important predictors of higher HDL cholesterol levels were being female and a higher frequency of alcohol consumption. Less strongly related were age and a prudent dietary pattern. Smoking and body mass index (BMI) were strongly negatively related to HDL cholesterol levels. We suggested that efforts to reduce coronary heart disease risks focus on weight control and good daily lifestyles in middle-aged and older Japanese population.