Associations of diet and lifestyle with hyperlipidemia for middle-aged and elderly persons among the Guangxi Bai Ku Yao and Han populations.

BACKGROUND

There are fifty-six ethnic groups in China. Han is the largest group and Bai Ku Yao is the isolated subgroup of the Yao minority. Little is known about the difference in the prevalence of hyperlipidemia between the Han and other minority groups in the rural areas.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the associations of diet and lifestyle factors with hyperlipidemia for middle-aged and elderly persons between the Guangxi Bai Ku Yao and Han populations.

DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 485 subjects of Bai Ku Yao and 501 subjects of Han Chinese ethnicity aged 40 years and older were surveyed by a stratified cluster random sampling technique.

METHODS

Information on demography, dietary intake, and lifestyle factors was collected by standard questionnaires. Blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, and serum lipid levels were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg) divided by height (m) squared.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperlipidemia in Bai Ku Yao and Han were 19.59% vs 36.13% (P<0.001), 13.81% vs 16.97% (P>0.05), and 28.45% vs 43.11% (P<0.001), respectively. Hyperlipidemia was positively correlated with BMI; waist circumference; total energy, total fat, and saturated fatty acids intakes; and negatively associated with sex (women were higher), physical activity, and total dietary fiber intake in Bai Ku Yao (P<0.05 to 0.001), whereas hyperlipidemia was positively associated with BMI; waist circumference; total energy, total fat, and saturated fatty acids intakes; and negatively associated with physical activity and total dietary fiber intake in Han (P<0.05 to 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of hyperlipidemia was significantly lower among ethnic Bai Ku Yao than among ethic Han individuals, which might mainly be attributed to the more favorable dietary patterns, lifestyle choices, and physical activity levels in the former ethnic group.