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Lipid measures continue to decline among US adults
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Levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL have declined between 1999 and 2014 and have shown steeper declines in more recent years, according to study data published in JAMA.
“Between 1999 and 2010, mean total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL levels declined in the U.S., regardless of cholesterol-lowering medication use,” Asher Rosinger, PhD, MPH, of the CDC, and colleagues wrote. “We used 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey lipid data in conjunction with the 1999 to 2012 data to determine whether earlier trends continued.”
Rosinger and colleagues analyzed trends in cholesterol from eight 2-year cross-sectional cycles between 1999-2000 and 2013-2014. The cohort included 39,049 adults for whom total cholesterol levels were available, 17,486 with available triglyceride levels and 17,096 with available LDL levels.
Age-adjusted total cholesterol decreased from 204 mg/dL (95% CI, 202-206) in 1999-2000 to 189 mg/dL (95% CI, 188-191, linear P < .001) in 2013-2014, with a 6-mg/dL drop between 2011-2012 and 2013-2014, the researchers wrote.
For triglyceride levels, the age-adjusted averages decreased from 123 mg/dL (95% CI, 118-129) in 1999-2000 to 97 mg/dL (95% CI, 92-102; P for quadratic trend = .02) in 2013-2014, with a 13-mg/dL drop between the last two cycles.
Average LDL levels decreased from 126 mg/dL (95% CI, 124-129) in 1999-2000 to 111 mg/dL (95% CI, 110-113; P for quadratic trend = .001) in 2013-2014, with a 4-mg/dL drop between 2011-2012 and 2013-2014.
The decreasing trends were similar when adjusted for lipid-lowering medications.
“Removal of trans-fatty acids in foods has been suggested as an explanation for the observed trends of triglycerides, LDL levels and [total cholesterol] levels,” the researchers wrote. “With increased interest in triglycerides for [CV] health, the continued drop of triglycerides, LDL levels and [total cholesterol] levels at a population level represents an important finding and may be contributing to declining death rates owing to [CHD] since 1999.” – by Cassie Homer
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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