Serum lipids, ABO blood group and sickle cell trait.

One hundred apparently healthy individuals were used in this study. 71% of these had normal haemoglobin (HbAA) while 29% had sickle cell trait (HbAS). Serum cholesterol and phospholipids were investigated. The mean lipid and lipoprotein concentrations (cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and phospholipid) were higher in the sickle cell trait than in the subjects with normal haemoglobin. When separated into blood groups, 24% belonged to the type A+, 11% to the type B+, 2% to the type AB+ and 63% to the type O+. In relation to sexes, a greater percentage of female population had higher lipid levels then the men, and this was consistent even in the sickle cell trait.