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Lipid profile and dietary fat, fatty acids and cholesterol intake in elderly women

INTRODUCTION The leading cause of death in the industrialized countries is cardiovascular disease (CVD) which accounts for more than 45 % of death in people over 65 years. Hypercholesterolemia is one of the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors. Diet with high content of saturated fat increases total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, which are associated with a higher risk of CVD. The aim of this study was to explore a possible association between fat intake and serum lipids in the elderly women. METHODOLOGY Subjects were 64 elderly women aged 65 years or more (65-90 years). Dietary intake of lipids, cholesterol, saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids was carried out by three-day 24-hour recalls. The concentration of total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides in the serum were measured by standard analyzers. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The average cholesterol intake was <300 mg, the energy share of fat was 32.8 % kJ, and the SFA intake was 10.9 % of total energy intake. The average serum cholesterol and LDL-C levels were higher than referent value. Higher levels of total cholesterol (≥5.0 mmol/L), triglycerides (≥1.7 mmol/L) and LDL-C (≥3.0 mmol/L) were obtained in 73.4 %, 28.1 % and 73.4 % of the subjects, respectively. Concentrations of triglycerides were significantly lower among women ≥75 than among women 65-74 years of age (1.3 vs 1.8 mmol/L). Triglycerides levels were significantly associated (p<0.05) with total cholesterol levels (r=0.27). Triglycerides levels were also negatively correlated (p<0.05) with age (r=-0.26), and positively with waist circumference (r=0.26). LDL-C levels correlated positively with total cholesterol levels (r=0.93). CONCLUSIONS Neither the intake of total fat and cholesterol nor that of SFA, MUFA, or PUFA was associated with serum lipid profile in elderly women. However, elderly women had lipid profile indicating a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

lipid profile; fat; cholesterol; fatty acids; elderly women

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