Cutaneous cholesterol and plasma lipoproteins in elderly active and bedridden patients compared with young adults

This report concerns two groups of elderly patients, one active and the other inactive with cardiovascular histories. Cutaneous and plasma cholesterol (Ch) and the lipoprotein fractions were analyzed in each group and compared with those of a young group. The cutaneous histological ageing type was studied in the three groups. No histological difference was seen to exist between the elderly populations (skin type II), the young group had normal type O skin. A significant difference was seen to exist between the levels of cutaneous Ch of the two elderly groups and that of the young group. Changes in the cutaneous Ch with respect to the ratio (total Ch/HDL Ch) were found to differ in the two elderly groups: the active elderly patients presented a positive correlation as did the young subjects but the inactive patients showed a negative correlation.