To estimate the influence of percent body fat on serum LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, we studied 3, 958 subjects who consulted our institute for health screening between April 1998 and March 1999 (starting point) and revisited one year later. Percent body fat was measured with a percent body fat measuring apparatus using the impedance method, and LDL-C were calculated by Fridewald's method. The subjects were classified according to the differences in body fat between the baseline and that one year later. Differences between the mean difference in LDL-C in the D 5-group (% body fat increased 2% or more) and that in the D 1-group (% body fat decreased 2% or more) were divided by differences between the mean difference in % body fat in the D 5-group and that in the D 1-group (dL/dF) . The dF/dL was 1.29 mg/d
l for all males, 2.18 mg/d
l for all females and 3.17 mg/d
l for females of age 45-49 respectively. To estimate the change in LDL-C one year later using the change in % body fat, one percent change in % body fat reflected a 1.5 mg/d
l change in LDL-C for males with a % body fat less than 26% and females with a % body fat less than 34% and 1.0 mg/d
l change of LDL-C for males with a % body fat of 26% or more and females with a % body fat of 34% or more. For females of age 45-59, it is necessary to consider that the rapid elevation of LDL-C level following the menopause and hormone replacement therapy will add some extra effect on this.
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