[Cholesterol as a risk factor of coronary disease in women].

The literature indicates that total serum cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease in women. But women are at lower risk than men at all levels of total serum cholesterol. Women with serum cholesterol 7-8 mmol/l are at lower risk than men with a cholesterol level between 5 and 6 mmol/l. Low HDL-cholesterol is probably more important as risk factor in women than in men. Women's relative protection is explained, at least partly, by women's estrogen associated higher HDL-cholesterol. Women with coronary heart disease, female diabetics, women older than 50 years, and women with familiar hypercholesterolemia should receive intervention for hypercholesterolemia just like men of the same age. Younger women should follow the dietary advice given to the population. But the limit for more advanced intervention should be higher for women under 50 years than for men of the same age.