Apolipoprotein B and AI distributions in the United States, 1988-1991: results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III).

Serum apolipoproteins (apo) B and AI were measured in a probability sample of the noninstitutionalized US civilian population, ages > or = 4 years, which included non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Mexican-Americans. Apo B concentrations were the same in males and females, lower in black males than in other males, low in childhood (approximately 0.80 g/L) and increasing to approximately 1.2 g/L in adults, and higher in younger women on hormones. Apo AI was higher in females than males, higher in blacks than in others, remained constant from childhood to adulthood (approximately 1.35 g/L) in males, but increased with age (approximately 1.30 g/L to approximately 1.55 g/L) in females, and was higher in women taking hormones. These are the first national probability estimates of apo B and apo AI in the US and are referable to the WHO-IFCC First International Reference Materials for apo AI and B.