On the relationship between nutrition, sex hormones and high-density lipoproteins in women.

Western women have significantly higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels than Oriental women whereas in men HDL-cholesterol levels are very similar. Oriental women have HDL-cholesterol levels similar to those of both Western and Oriental men. Western women show a markedly higher resistance against atheromatous diseases than men. Evidence is provided demonstrating that women are able to increase their HDL-cholesterol levels on a nutrition high in saturated and monounsaturated fat. This could be explained by a concurrent dietary fat related increase in female sex hormone levels (e.g. estradiol and estrone), hormones which are known to increase HDL-cholesterol levels.