OBJECTIVETo study plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels of Chinese adults among different areas in China.

METHODSAnalysis of fasting plasma lipid in 49,252 subjects aged 18 years and above was made.

RESULTSThe mean TC, TG and HDL-C were 3.81 mmol/L, 1.10 mmol/L and 1.30 mmol/L, respectively. The mean TC, TG and HDL-C is 3.96 mmol/L, 1.16 mmol/L, 1.30 mmol/L in adults in urban and 3.75 mmol/L, 1.07 mmol/L and 1.30 mmol/L in adults in rural areas. In age groups of 18 - 44 years, 45 - 59 years and 60 years above, the mean values were 3.70 mmol/L, 4.09 mmol/L, 4.21 mmol/L for TC; 1.07 mmol/L, 1.21 mmol/L, 1.20 mmol/L for TG; and 1.29 mmol/L, 1.33 mmol/L, 1.33 mmol/L for HDL-C.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study might provide the national representative data of plasma lipid level. TC and TG levels of adults in urban might be higher than those adults in rural. With increasing of age, the plasma TC level should be increased. There is no significant difference in TG levels between the adults aged 45-49 years and over 60 years, while the TG level of both age groups should be higher than those of adults aged 18-44 years.