The plasma lipid concentrations of healthy Nigerians.

A cross-sectional survey was carried out to investigate the pattern of plasma lipid concentrations of healthy Nigerians living in the urban area of Lagos. Generally, the levels of plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride and lipoproteins of Africans were lower than those of Caucasians. The subjects were on high carbohydrate and low fat diets, and most of them were involved in some form of physical activity. These factors might contribute to their low plasma lipid levels. The plasma lipid concentrations (except HDL-cholesterol) increased with age. However, the HDL-cholesterol values remained very high within the protective limits, in older individuals as well as younger subjects. There were no significant differences in the cholesterol and triglyceride values for male and female subjects. Finally, the overweight subjects had higher concentrations of plasma lipids than subjects with normal weights.