Serum lipid distributions in canadian indians of northwestern ontario

Abstract

Native Indians in the Sioux Lookout Zone of Northwestern Ontario experience lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases than does the general Canadian population, despite a higher prevalence of such risk factors as smoking, obesity, and hypertension. To investigate whether this pattern may be related to the population distribution of serum lipids, the authors conducted a cross-sectional survey. One hundred and ninety-three registered Indians, 18 years of age or older, living in four isolated villages in the Zone were interviewed and examined. Age, sex, height, and weight were determined. A blood specimen was analysed for fasting serum triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. In relation to reference populations, the distribution of serum triglyceride, cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol values is similar to that reported in other Native and non-Native populations, while that of HDL cholesterol is higher. Elevated levels of HDL cholesterol in this population may play a role in protecting it from a higher incidence of coronary heart disease.