Serum cholesterol and triglycerides and hyperlipoproteinemia in elderly women

Calculated energy, fat and carbohydrate intakes, and serum cholesterol and lipid concentrations for 70 elderly women 62 to 99 years of age were related to age, income, education, and type of residence. Serum lipoproteins were determined by electrophoresis. Total fat and saturated fatty acid intakes decreased with age. As percentage of energy from fat decreased, percentage of energy from carbohydrate increased. Approximately one-fourth of the women had cholesterol levels in excess of 250 mg/dl, and 41% had triglyceride levels above 170 mg/dl. Mean triglyceride and cholesterol levels were higher in younger subjects than in older subjects, in higher income groups compared to lower income level, and cholesterol levels of women with education beyond high school level exceeded those of women with less education. Hyperlipoproteinemia, diagnosed for 14% of the subjects, occurred most often in the 70- to 79-year group.