Serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density-lipoprotein concentrations in men with different dietary and exercise regimens in Puriscal, Costa Rica.

Mean serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were higher for two groups of sedentary middle-aged and elderly men than for a group of physically-active, middle-aged farmers, all from rural Puriscal, Costa Rica. The mean serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-risk factor levels of the three groups were all higher than the comparable US means. Dietary fat and cholesterol intake were also greater for the Puriscal men than for the comparable US counterpart. No correlations were found between dietary fat or cholesterol and the corresponding serum levels. Age was correlated with serum cholesterol and HDL-risk factor values. Weight was also correlated with these variables as well as with serum triglyceride concentrations. A high prevalence of obesity was found among the middle-aged sedentary men.