Differences in diet, alcohol consumption, and serum lipid levels of the middle-aged and elderly in the Guangxi Bai Ku Yao and Han populations

Bai Ku Yao is an isolated subgroup of the Yao ethnic minority in China, with ancestral customs such as intra-ethnic marriages, corn wine and rum intakes conserved to the present day. This study aimed to investigate differences in diet, alcohol consumption, and serum lipid levels of the middle-aged and elderly between the Guangxi Bai Ku Yao and Han populations. In total, 485 subjects of Bai Ku Yao minority and 501 Han Chinese subjects aged ≥40 years were surveyed using a stratified randomized cluster sampling, with information on dietary intake and alcohol consumption collected by standard questionnaires. When compared to the Han Chinese population, in the Bai Ku Yao population: 1) education level, height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, hypertension and total energy, fat, protein, dietary cholesterol (C), and salt intakes were lower; 2) physical activity, carbohydrate, vegetal protein, and total dietary fiber intakes were higher; 3) serum total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, apolipoprotein (Apo) A1, and Apo B levels were lower. In the Bai Ku Yao population, the levels of triglycerides, HDL-C, Apo A1 and the ratio of Apo A1-to-Apo B were higher whilst the levels of LDL-C and Apo B were lower among alcohol drinkers than nondrinkers. In the Han population, HDL-C levels were higher and LDL-C lower in drinkers compared to nondrinkers. Differences in lipid levels between the two ethnic groups may partially be explained by ethnic differences in dietary habits and alcohol consumption.

Abstract

Keywords:
Apolipoprotein A1 – Apolipoprotein B – Blood pressure – BMI – Cholesterol – Diet – HDL cholesterol – Hypertension – LDL cholesterol – Triglycerides – Waist circumference