Plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. Influence of risk factor intervention.

Determinants of circulating high density lipoproteins (HDL) were sought in 301 men studied during a year of participation in a coronary prevention program. Mean plasma HDL-cholesterol concentration rose by 2.8 mg/dl (6%) in the group receiving multifactor intervention, but the change did not differ significantly from that in the comparison group. Larger changes in both directions were seen in many individuals. Multiple regression analysis of these changes indicates that increased plasma HDL levels occur when plasma triglyceride level is decreased, cigarette smoking is reduced, and habitual alcohol intake is increased. Increases in the concentration of HDL-cholesterol also tended to accompany adherence to the fat-controlled diet, reduction in LDL-cholesterol level, and loss of body weight. Conventional coronary prevention programs are unlikely to have an adverse influence on this new, risk-lowering factor.