Nutritional habits and serum lipid levels in a low-fat intake Chinese population sample

The dietary intake of macronutrients and of specific minerals and vitamins was measured in a low-fat intake adult population living in a rural area in northwestern China. The total intake of fat amounted to +/- 12% of total energy. The P/S ratio was 2.5 and the U/S ratio 3.8. Carbohydrates provide about 75% of total energy. The mean total serum cholesterol was 148 mg/dl in men and 163 mg/dl in women. The mean HDL-cholesterol level was 38.6 mg/dl in men and 39.4 mg/dl in women, confirming the absence of a significant sex difference in HDL-cholesterol in low-fat consuming populations. Triglyceride levels were similar to those of Western populations. For both sexes taken together a positive correlation was found between the serum cholesterol level and saturated fat intake (p < 0.001) and a negative correlation with the P/S ratio (p < 0.05). Calcium intake was low: 346 mg/d in men and 245 mg/d in women.