The nature of the association between diet and serum lipids in the community: A twin study

Diet is commonly thought to be an environmental influence on serum lipid co ncentrations. This study evaluated whether total caloric and fat intake pre dict total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), hig h-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglyceride (TRIG) concentrat ions for environmental, as compared with genetic, reasons among 137 monozyg otic and 67 dizygotic young adult twins. When genetic influences were contr olled by correlating differences between monozygotic co-twins, a significan t association remained between diet and TC, LDL, and HDL, suggesting that t hese dietary and serum lipid measures correlate for environmental reasons. Twin structural equation modeling confirmed these results. Overall, these r esults provide additional support for the hypothesis that diet is an enviro nmental influence on TC, LDL, and HDL.