Distinct ethnic differences in lipid profiles across glucose categories.

Description

The aim of this study was to examine the ethnic differences in lipid profiles at comparable glucose tolerance status. The data were derived from the DECODE/DECODA (Diabetes Epidemiology: Collaborative Analysis of Diagnostic Criteria in Europe/Asia) studies which consisted of 31 study cohorts including 24,760 men and 27,595 women aged 25-74 years. Considerable ethnic differences in lipid profiles were found within each glucose category. Asian Indians were characterized by an atherogenic dyslipidemia that consist of low HDL cholesterol and high triglyceride levels across all glucose categories when compared to other ethnic groups. The Europeans had the highest total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. It was also reported that individuals who had undiagnosed diabetes had a worse lipid profile than did diagnosed cases in several ethnic groups. These results suggest that there are different lipid profiles according to ethnicity, regardless of the glucose levels. This underlines the necessity of developing ethnic-specific guidelines for risk assessment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.