Coronary heart disease risk factors among religious groupings in a Jewish population sample in Jerusalem

The hypothesis that plasma lipids, blood pressure, smoking and dietary intake differed according to degree of religiosity was examined in a sample of Jewish residents of Jerusalem. Religiosity was classified according to the subject's self-ranking of his perceived degree of religiosity. Prevalence of smoking, and plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher in secular participants than in the orthodox group. No differences in blood pressure and in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed. Secular subjects consumed more total fat, more saturated fatty acids and less carbohydrate than religious subjects. These differences in nutrient intake among the religious groups reflected differences in their food selection, notably consumption of dairy products. These findings of parallel differences in plasma lipids and in dietary intake are consistent with the differing incidence of myocardial infarction in the religious groups which has been shown in the Israeli population.