SERUM CHOLESTEROL, ELECTROPHORETIC LIPID PATTERN, DIET AND CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE: A STUDY IN CORONARY PATIENTS AND IN HEALTHY MEN OF DIFFERENT ORIGIN AND OCCUPATIONS IN ISRAEL

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to determine, by analytic and paper electrophoretic methods, the lipid patterns of a group of coronary patients, of various groups of apparently healthy European Jews in different occupations, and of a group of Yemenite Jews. It is suggested that the serum beta cholesterol levels in milligrams percent are a better index of athero-genic activity than is the total serum cholesterol level or any other lipid or lipid pattern combination. Of 74 coronary patients, 40% had normal levels of total cholesterol (the normal upper level being taken as 250 mg%), but only 10.8% had beta cholesterol levels of less than 180 mg%. The group of Yemenite Jews examined did not show a single example with more than 180 mg% beta cholesterol. The Yemenite Jews were free of evidence of coronary disease. Among Jews of European origin divided into groups according to occupation, it was found that professional workers (physicians) had significantly higher average beta cholesterol levels than did manual workers. A survey was carried out to determine the dietary habits of Yemenite smallholders. The group of coronary patients showed a consistently low percentage of alpha cholesterol, which was independent of the total cholesterol level and/or the beta cholesterol level in milligrams percent.