Associations between body height, body composition and cholesterol levels in middle-aged men. the coronary risk factor study in southern Sweden (CRISS)

Abstract

Background: Short body height is associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease; however, mechanisms are not fully explained. In this study, associations between body height and serum cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol) were investigated.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of middle-aged men from Helsingborg, Sweden starting 1990. Two birth-year cohorts were invited at 37, 40 and 43 years of age; participation at baseline was 991 (68%). Serum and HDL cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Non-HDL cholesterol, body mass index (BMI) and waist/ hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. The participants completed a questionnaire covering lifestyle variables.

Results: There were statistically significant inverse correlations between body height and serum cholesterol (-0.11) and non-HDL cholesterol (-0.12). One standard deviation, 6.7 cm, taller body height was associated with a lower serum cholesterol (-0.12 mmol/l) and a lower non-HDL cholesterol (-0.13 m mol/l; p < 0.001). These associations remained when adjusted for BMI and WHR. Men with serum cholesterol equal to or above 6.5 mmol/l were significantly shorter (mean 178.71 cm) than men with serum cholesterol below 6.5 mmol/l (mean 179.71 cm). In addition, BMI and WHR were positively associated with serum and non-HDL cholesterol and inversely associated with HDL cholesterol. The change in cholesterol levels over the six-year follow-up was significantly associated to the change in BMI and WHR.

Conclusions: Body height had an independent and inverse relation to serum cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol in middle-aged men, and the lipid pattern suggests that the underlying mechanism might be different from the traditional association between lipids and the metabolic syndrome. Although the direct clinical implication is limited, our results may help to explain the association between short height and risk of myocardial infarction.