DIETARY PRACTICES AND LIPID INTAKE IN RELATION TO PLASMA-LIPID PROFILE IN HONG-KONG CHINESE

Objective: To study dietary lipid intake and plasma lipid profile of t he Hong Kong Chinese population as part of a territory wide survey on cardiovascular risk factors. Design: Randomised age and sex stratified survey. Subjects: 1010 subjects aged 25-74 y (500 men, 510 women). Me asurements: A food frequency method with food tables compiled for Hong Kong was used for nutrient quantitation, while a separate questionnai re was used to examine dietary practices. plasma lipid profile was est imated using standard laboratory methods. Results: Total calorie, fat, saturated fatty acid (SFA), poly- and mono-unsaturated fatty acid (PU FA and MUFA), and cholesterol intake were higher in men; however when adjusted for calorie intake no difference was observed. Men had lower intake of PUFA as percentage of total energy and a higher Hegsted Scor e compared with women. Subjects consuming beans twice or more per week had lower total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. Overa ll, the population dietary intake was close to the ideal for cardiovas cular health: percentage fat not greater than 30% of the total calorie intake, saturated fat intake not greater than 10% of calories, and ch olesterol less than 180 mg/1000 Kcal. Conclusion: The dietary pattern for Hong Kong Chinese appear to be satisfactory with respect to cardio vascular health.