Do Turkish adults really have lower serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol?
GROUND: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in Turkey. The Turkish Heart Study and TEKHARF study have been carried out at various times and in different parts of Turkey and have suggested that the Turkish population has a low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level. However, in our daily practice, mean HDL-C levels were not as low as previously reported. Here, we investigated the lipid profile, especially the HDL-C level, in the population of the Duzce region of northwest Turkey. METHODS: Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and HDL-C levels were measured in 674 healthy volunteers (398 women and 276 men); low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were calculated using the Friedewald equation. RESULTS: The mean serum HDL-C level was 46.1 +/- 9.8 mg/dl in men and 53.2 +/- 10.7 mg/dl in women; these values are higher than expected based on the Turkish Heart Study. The mean serum total cholesterol level was 196.7 +/- 43.2 mg/dL in men and 198.4 +/- 43
