Friedewald's LDL-cholesterol estimation formula in a Japanese American population

Friedewald's formula is often used to estimate low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) when direct measurement is not available. In this equation, the ratio of triglyceride (TG): cholesterol (C) in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) is assumed to be 5:1. Recently it has been reported that in native Japanese the formula provided a better fit if this ratio is taken to be 4:1. The application of the formula was therefore examined in a sample of 229 second-generation Japanese American (Nisei) men. In this population, the 5:1 ratio of TG:C in VLDL was found to be appropriate. Thus the findings reported for native Japanese do not appear to be generally applicable to all Japanese populations.