Serum lipid changes in medical students

Changes in serum lipids and reasons for these changes were evaluated in 108 medical students, Class of 1975. Serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides were analyzed in their freshman and senior years. A self-administered questionnaire was used to determine if the education in medical school or the knowledge of their freshman lipid vales motivated the students to change their diet and exercise habits. During this four-year period, there was a statistically significant decrease in the mean cholesterol levels (-10 mg. per 100 ml.), while the values increased slightly but not significantly for mean triglyceride (3 mg. per 100 ml.) and weight (2 lb.). Students with abnormal lipid values in their freshman year changed their diets more frequently than those with normal values. When the students were grouped by their change in diet and exercise habits, the largest decrease in lipid values was in those who changed both their diet and exercise. However, the changes in lipid values could not be totally attributed to the students' change in habits. Results suggest that detection and education may contribute to changes in certain risk factors associated with coronary heart disease in young medical students.