On the cause of elevated level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in Sanct-Petersburg

An attempt has been made to interprete higher level of HDL cholesterol in Russian men aged 40-59 years compared to their American counterparts detected in a joint Russian-American population study. Data on blood levels of HDL cholesterol in men and women of a wide age range from Moscow and St.Petersburg (Russia) and in Cincinnati (USA) were analyzed. In newborns average levels of HDL cholesterol in St.Petersburg and Cincinnati appeared to be the same. In Russian men HDL cholesterol level reached maximum at the agre of 30-39 years. In this age group the difference between Russian and American men was most significant (10,8 mg/dl, p<0,05). By the age of 60-69 years levels of HDL cholesterol tended to become equal. In Russian women aged 20-39 years HDL cholesterol level exceeded that of American women of the same age (by 4,7-5 mg/dl, p<0,05). By the age of 40-49 years the difference disappeared and in the age group 60-69 years American women had even higher cholesterol levels (by 6 mg/dl, p<0,05). Comparison of distribution curves and median values of HDL cholesterol in men (high proportion of persons with high alcohol intake) and women (low proportion of persons with high alcohol intake) aged 30-39 years in Russia showed the intake of alcohol to have an impact in the elevation of HDL cholesterol level in Russian male population.