Levels and interrelationships of serum and lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. Association with adiposity and the consumption of ethanol, tobacco, and beverages containing caffeine.

We have carried out a cross-sectional multivariate analysis of serum and lipoprotein lipid levels in white persons from an industrial population. Very low density lipoprotein triglyceride level was independent of ethanol consumption but increased with adiposity and cigarette smoking and decreased with coffee-tea drinking. Concomitant age variation in indices of adiposity accounted for only a small part of the sex-specific age trends in triglyceride level. Very low density lipoprotein cholesterol level was independent of all variables considered when controlled for very low density lipoprotein triglyceride. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol covaried with very low density lipoprotein triglyceride among normotriglyceridemic persons. Small increases in low density lipoprotein cholesterol level with adiposity and cigarette smoking appeared to reflect associated increases in very low density lipoprotein triglyceride. Increased low density lipoprotein cholesterol level with age, however, was largely independent of concomitant age variation in very low density lipoprotein triglyceride. High density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased with ethanol consumption and decreased with adiposity and cigarette smoking even after adjustment for its inverse relationship with very low density lipoprotein triglyceride.