Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the anthropometry, the serum lipid levels and the nutrient intakes of two groups according to their alcohol intake, smoking habits, regular exercise patterns, menopause status and obesity levels. The subjects consisted of 180 clinically normal adults (males 89, females 91) in the Youngdong area. There were significant differences in the triglyceride (TG) concentrations between the alcohol consumers (169.3 +/- 130.0 mg/dl) and the non-alcohol consumers (111.4 +/- 64.5 mg/dl), and the smokers (165.0 +/- 103.6 mg/dl) and the non-smokers (110.8 +/- 39.0 mg/dl). Although regular exercise did not affect the serum lipid levels, the dietary intakes of cholesterol, niacin and phosphate were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the male exercising group than in the male non-exercising group ; and female exercising group consumed more polyunsaturated fatty acids (p < 0.05) than the female non-exercising group. The waist/hip ratio, serum total cholesterol (198.4 +/- 36.3 mg/dl) and serum LDL-cholesterol (119.5 +/- 34.9 mg/dl) levels of the postmenopausal females were significantly higher than those of the premenopausal females (p < 0.01). The obese males showed higher serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, LDL/HDL, and relative cholesterol levels than those of the normal-weight males ; and the obese females showed higher serum TG levels than that of the normal-weight females (p < 0.01). These results suggested that drinking, smoking, menopause and obesity are risk factors for hyperlipidemia. Thus, moderation in alcohol consumption, non-smoking, regular exercise and the maintenance of normal weight are necessary to prevent hyperlipidemia in middle-aged people.

• Keywords: alcohol consumption; smoking; exercise; menopause; obesity; blood lipid levels; nutrient intake