06 Risk factor: Lipids CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
6
Cholesterol
Risk factor: lipids
ICELAND
Average cholesterol levels in women aged 30 and above mmol/litre estimated to 2005
FINLAND SWEDEN
ESTONIA
High levels of LDL-cholesterol, and other abnormal lipids (fats), are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids in the bloodstream and in all the body’s cells. It is needed to form cell membranes and hormones, and for other bodily functions. The body can make cholesterol, or it can obtain it from food, especially animal products such as meats, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Certain saturated vegetable fats and oils, including coconut fat and palm oil, are cholesterol-free but cause an increase in blood cholesterol. Some foods that do not contain animal products may contain trans-fats, which also cause the body to make more cholesterol. Fruit, vegetables and cereals do not contain cholesterol. Cholesterol is transported around the body in two kinds of lipoproteins: low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, and highdensity lipoprotein, or HDL. A high level of LDL can lead to clogging of the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and ischaemic stroke, while HDL reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. The female sex hormone estrogen tends to raise HDLcholesterol levels, which may help explain why premenopausal women are relatively protected from developing coronary heart disease.
DENMARK
data from urban populations only
LITHUANIA
Average cholesterol levels in men more than 0.4 mmol/litre higher than in women
6.0 and above
NETH. BELGIUM
FRA NCE
POLAND
GERMANY
5.5–5.99
CZECH REPUBLIC
5.0–5.49
HUNGARY
AUSTRIA SWITZ.
ROMANIA CROATIA
C A N A D A
ITALY
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO
BULGARIA
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
no data
ALBANIA
U S A
CUBA
MEXICO
DOMINICAN REP.
le peop n o i ave mill 105 e USA h els h in t terol lev es chol at are a isk. th lar r ascu v o i card
Average cholesterol levels in women more than 0.4 mmol/litre higher than in men
3.0–4.99
SPAIN
JAPAN TURKEY
C H I N A ISRAEL JORDAN
KUWAIT
PAKISTAN NAURU
EGYPT
INDIA
SAUDI ARABIA
SAMOA
BANGLADESH VIET NAM
GUATEMALA
THAILAND TONGA
GAMBIA
COSTA RICA
NIGERIA
SINGAPORE
MICRONESIA, FED. STATES OF
SEYCHELLES
Hi cholesgh causes terol a thi around cardiord of all vas diseascular worldw e ide.
I N D O N E S I A
BRAZIL
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
AUSTRALIA
Fatty deposits along the inside of artery walls lead to atherosclerosis and narrowing of the arteries.
URUGUAY
NEW
Current recommended lipid levels
Total cholesterol
ZEALAND
Trends in cholesterol levels in Beijing, China
European guideline
US guideline
less than 5.0 mmol/l
less than 240 mg/dl (6.2 mmol/l)
Average total cholesterol in people aged 25 to 64 years 1984–1999 mmol/l
5.25 5.1 1999
LDL-cholesterol
less than 3.0 mmol/l
less than 160 mg/dl (3.8 mmol/l)
HDL-cholesterol
1.0 mmol/l or more in males 1.2 mmol/l or more in females
40 mg/dl (1 mmol/l) or more
less than 1.7 mmol/l
less than 200 mg/dl (2.3 mmol/l)
Triglycerides (fasting)
30
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
UNITED KINGDOM
1999 4.61 Men
4.43
4.44
4.15
1988
1993
1984
1996
4.55 Women
4.43
4.17
1988
1984
4.34
1996
1993
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