PLASMA-LIPIDS AND APOLIPOPROTEINS IN A POPULATION OF ORANG-ASLI (ABORIGINES) FROM WEST MALAYSIA

Plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipopr otein cholesterol (HDLC) and apolipoproteins Al (ape Al) and B (ape B) were measured in a sample of subjects from the Semai tribe of Orang A sli in peninsular Malaysia. They appeared to exhibit the lowest TC eve r recorded (1.6 for males and 1.9 mmol/l for females) and relatively h igh TG (1.4 mmol/l for males and 1.5 mmol/l for females)(means for the whole sample), There was little apparent ageing gradient in any of th e plasma analytes, but the group of men aged 21-40 had lower HDLC than the corresponding female group, Both low density lipoprotein choleste rol (LDLC) (calculated) and HDLC as well as their corresponding apolip oproteins were correspondingly very low. There was a significant corre lation between apo AI and HDLC in both sexes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scienc e Ireland Ltd.