Declining levels of total serum cholesterol in adult New Zealanders.

Abstract

Mean serum total cholesterol concentration in women has declined by 0.3 mmol/L from 6.0 mmol/L (p<0.05) since the previous representative survey of New Zealanders (Life in New Zealand Survey, 1989), but by only 0.1 mmol/L in men, despite a similar reduction amongst men and women in the proportion of dietary energy derived from total and saturated fat. It is possible that weight gain in men and women during the last nine years is having a differential effect on serum cholesterol concentrations.