OBSERVATIONS ON SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN TOTAL SERUM CHOLESTEROL LEVEL AMONG HEALTHY YOUNG PRISONERS

Abstract

Monthly cholesterol determinations were made over the period of a year on 24 healthy young white male prisoners to observe the effect of season of the year on cholesterol level. Highly significant seasonal variations were found, with the highest levels for prisoners with complete data occurring in Dec. and the lowest levels in May. The cyclic seasonal pattern was found among subjects with low, intermediate and high overall cholesterol levels. The decrease in cholesterol level was not paralleled by a loss of body weight. There was no definite indication that the seasonal pattern was closely correlated with changes in diet or physical activity, or with stress at the Christmas season, but all three of these factors may have played a part. It is equally possible that some other biologic or technical factors not considered in this study are largely responsible for the seasonal variations found.