[Blood lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations in a healthy urban population of Northern Cameroon: variation with age and sex].

We determined plasma lipids and apolipoproteins A-I and B in 142 subjects from Ngaoundere, in the north of Cameroon, as a means of evaluating atherosclerotic risks. The mean triglyceride concentration was 0.836 +/- 0.174 g/l; mean total cholesterol concentration was 1.276 +/- 0.251; mean HDL cholesterol concentration was 0.162 +/- 0.222; mean apolipoprotein A-I concentration was 0.577 +/- 0.096 and mean apolipoprotein B concentration was 0.836 +/- 0.174. These values differ from those reported for Caucasian populations but are similar to those reported in other studies in Cameroon. All lipid factors except HDL cholesterol concentration increased significantly with age (p < 0. 05). There were also differences between the sexes, with mean triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations significantly higher (p < 0.01) in men than in women. There was no significant difference between the sexes, however, in total cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I concentrations. Thus advanced age and being male are risk factors for atherosclerosis in this population.