Korean J Community Nutr.  2003 Apr;8(2):192-201.

The Relationship between Serum Cholesterol Levels and Dietary Fatty Acid Patterns, Plasma Fatty Acids, and Other Lipid Profile among Korean Adults

• Kim JS
• Suh YK
• Kim HS
• Chang KJ
• Choi H

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to assess dietary fatty acid patterns and to elucidate the relationship between the serum cholesterol levels and dietary fatty acid patterns, plasma fatty acid compositions, BMI (body mass index), and other lipid profile. The subjects were 151 adults aged 23 to 80 years, selected from the Outpatient Clinic and Cardiovascular Department of the Seoul Municipal Hospital. Dietary data were obtained using three day food records. Sixteen dietary fatty acids were analyzed using Korean and US nutrient databases. The subjects were divided into three serum cholesterol levels: desirable (< 200 mg/dl, N = 44), borderline-risk (> or = 200 - < 240 mg/dl, N = 35), and high-risk (> or = 240 mg/dl, N = 72) groups. The high-risk group had higher BMI, waist, and waist to hip ratio (WHR) than the desirable and borderline-risk groups. Serum concentrations of triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio were significantly higher in the high-risk group as compared to those in the other two groups. The serum cholesterol levels were highly correlated with BMI (r = 0.435), triglyceride (r = 0.425) and LDL/HDL cholesterol (r = 0.870) ratio. The highest fatty acid intake was from oleic acid (33 - 34% of total fatty acid intakes), which was followed by linoleic acid (27%), palmitic acid (19%), and stearic acid (7%). There was no correlation between the serum cholesterol levels and the dietary fatty acid intakes, polyunsaturated/monounsaturated/saturated fatty acids (P/M/S) and omega6/omega3 ratios. The correlation between plasma fatty acids such as myristic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid and serum cholesterol levels was also weak.

Keyword

serum cholesterol; body mass index (BMI); triglyceride; LDL/HDL; dietary fatty acids; plasma fatty acids

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Ambulatory Care Facilities
Cholesterol*
Cholesterol, LDL
Fatty Acids*
Hospitals, Municipal
Humans
Linoleic Acid
Myristic Acid
Oleic Acid
Palmitic Acid
Plasma*
Seoul
Triglycerides
Waist-Hip Ratio
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, LDL
Fatty Acids
Linoleic Acid
Myristic Acid
Oleic Acid
Palmitic Acid