Cholesterol

As part of the CB Heart Project, serum cholesterol values were determined in 5562 persons examined during the period March1973 - March 1974. The total serum cholesterol was measured with the “direct” method of Huang. This method, as employed inthe Laboratory of the CB Heart Project (the CKCL in Rotterdam) produces results which are, on average, about 7-8% higher thanthose obtained by the Abell method in the WHO Regional Lipid Reference Laboratory in Prague. The CKCL is taking part in thelipid standardization program in the latter reference laboratory. Serum cholesterol levels in the CB Heart Project increased with age, and levels in men were higher than those in women. In themale general population of Doetinchem and Tilburg aged 35 to 49 years, only half (51%) of the men had serum cholesterolvalues below 6.2 mmol/1 (240 mg%); in one-third of the men the values were between 6.2 and 7.2 mmol/1 (240280 mg%), andin the remaining 16% of men serum cholesterol values were higher than 7.3 mmol/1 (280 mg%). In the female generalpopulation, the corresponding figures were 66% (“low”), 24% (“borderline”) and 10% (“elevated” values). Comparisons with otherkey studies confirm the position of The Netherlands among those countries where serum cholesterol levels are high. In Rotterdam teachers the mean values and the medians of men and women are slightly lower than those in the generalpopulation. Seven per cent of the male and 5% of the female teachers aged 30-39 years belong to the “elevated” group, versus13% and 6% respectively in the general population of 35-39 years. In Rotterdam, about 0.4 mmol/1 (16 mg%) higher serumcholesterol values were observed in women and men aged 30-39 years than in those ten years younger. The mean values andthe medians in male and female teachers were similar in both age-groups and hardly higher in men than in women. It seems that in The Netherlands, when comparing serum cholesterol values of Zutphen (around 1960) with those of Doetinchem(1973-1974), there was no increase (possibly even a slight decrease) during the last 10-15 years.