Plasma cholesterol distribution in a rural Nigerian population--relationship to age, sex and body mass.

Plasma cholesterol was measured in 417 healthy rural Nigerians consisting of 230 males (mean age 36.60 +/- 1.29 years) and 187 (mean age 34.60 +/- 1.38 years). Mean plasma cholesterol concentrations were found to be 2.91 +/- 0.22 mmol/l and 3.26 +/- 0.25 mmol/l in males and females respectively. These differences were highly significant (p < 0.025). The lowest plasma cholesterol levels were observed in the 11 to 20 year age group and the highest in the > 61 years age group. A strong correlation, which was higher in males than females was observed between plasma cholesterol and age (r = 0.48; p < 0.01). No significant correlation was observed between body mass index (BMI) and plasma cholesterol in both male female subjects. These results suggest that plasma cholesterol concentrations observed in rural Nigerians may be related to their physical activity and the consumption of a low fat diet.