Lipid profile in middle class Bengali population of Kolkata.

Fasting samples of 1396 apparently healthy, middle class Bengali population of Kolkata, West Bengal were tested for total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, over a period of three years. The values obtained were (in mg/dl) 190±33, 132±42, 53±10, 116±30 and 21±7 respectively. When these subjects were grouped according to the age and sex, no appreciable difference were observed between most of the groups. Triglyceride was found to be low and HDL cholesterol was high in women below 30 years when compared with men of similar age. Beyond 60 years, cholesterol level as well as low density lipoprotein cholesterol was found to be gradually increased in case of women. Besides these changes, other minor differences were not statistically significant. It is suggested that the lipid values of the present study should be taken as a base parameters and the clinical evaluation be made on the basis of these finding.