Lipid disorders in transitional societies with particular reference to triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Nutritional Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Dyslipidemia, a key risk factor for coronary heart disease, affects affluent urban populations globally, including in developing countries.
• Prevalence of hyperlipoproteinemias and obesity (abdominal and overall) was investigated in affluent urban Thai women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of different types of hyperlipoproteinemias in affluent urban Thai women.
• To assess the relationship between obesity indicators (BMI, WHR) and lipid profiles.
• To evaluate the lipid-lowering effect of linoleic acid in dyslipidemic women.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 453 affluent urban Thai women.
• Assessment of hyperlipoproteinemia types, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR).
• Dietary intervention with linoleic acid in 101 dyslipidemic women for 8 weeks, analyzing serum lipid levels (TC, LDL-C, TG, apo B, apo A-I, 18:2 n-6).

Main Results:

• Prevalence rates for hyperlipoproteinemias (Type IIa, IIb, IV, V) were 32.5%, 2.2%, 2.4%, and 0.4%, respectively.
• Obesity prevalence: abdominal 32.9%, overall 5.7%, combined 21.2%.
• Higher BMI and WHR correlated with increased triglycerides (TG) and apo B, and decreased HDL-cholesterol. BMI also influenced total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol, and apo A-I levels.
• Linoleic acid intervention significantly reduced serum TC, LDL-C, TG, and apo B levels.

Conclusions:

• Obesity is significantly associated with adverse lipid profiles in affluent urban Thai women.
• Dietary linoleic acid demonstrates a significant lipid-lowering effect, indicating its potential therapeutic value for dyslipidemia.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions for dyslipidemia and obesity in this demographic.