Quantitative serum lipoprotein electrophoresis in Nigerians.

In response to the growing demand for lipid profiles in Nigerian patients with suspected ischaemic heart disease, cerebro-vascular accident and hypertension, serum lipoprotein electrophoresis based on ozone-Schiff staining technique and densitometric scanning has been developed. Out of 93 serum samples 80 showed three distinct bands in the electrophoretic patterns; nine showed two distinct bands and four had unusual migration characteristics. Mean percentages of the three bands in the common pattern were 43.5, 22.8, and 33.7 for alpha pre-beta and beta lipoproteins respectively. The relative preponderance of alpha lipoproteins in Africans contrasts with the findings in Europeans. It supports the view that high serum alpha lipoproteins may be protective against ischaemic heart disease in contrast to the atherogenic role of beta lipoproteins.