Serum lipids of Indian physicians living in the U.S. compared to U.S.-born physicians

Reports of increased susceptibility of persons from the Indian subcontinent to coronary heart disease led us to examine serum lipids and apolipoproteins in a group of physicians born in India now living in the U.S. A matched sample of U.S.-born physicians working at the same institution was recruited as controls. Fasting triglyceride (TG) levels were twice as high among the Indians (174 vs 86 mg/dl, P = 0.002), total cholesterol modestly increased (193 vs 177 mg/dl, P less than or equal to 0.01) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) fraction depressed 36 vs 40 mg/dl, P = 0.006). Both TG and HDL-C were strongly determined by relative obesity in the Americans, but not among the immigrants. Calculated values of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were similar in the two groups. Apolipoprotein A-I was significantly lower in a subsample of the Indians, while Apo B was higher. Minor differences between the groups in body mass index, food frequency intake, smoking patterns, alcohol intake and exercise did not significantly influence the results. Hereditary differences in lipid metabolism may have a role in these findings, however, the delayed effects of adaptation to U.S. lifestyle cannot be ruled out.