Objective: To explore the association between dietary cholesterol intake and hypercholesterolemia among Chinese adults.
Methods: In 2009, 4 244 adults aged 25-65 years old who participated in both 2004 and 2009 China Health and Nutrition Surveys, and with complete biochemical and dietary data were selected. Hypercholesterolemia were defined as with total cholesterol ≥ 6.22 mmol/L, according to 2007 Chinese Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults. Non-conditional logistic regression was used to investigate association between dietary cholesterol intake and hypercholesterolemia.
Results: The average total cholesterol was 4.9 mmol/L, with prevalence of hypercholesterolemia as 9.6%, in 2009. During 2004 to 2009, dietary cholesterol showed a dramatical increase, with lower intake groups the most. Males who consumed middle or lower dietary cholesterol in 2004 and high intake in 2009 had significantly higher risk of having hypercholesterolemia. However, similar findings did not appear in females.
Conclusion: The associations between dietary cholesterol intake and hypercholesterolemia were different among Chinese males and females. Dramatic increase of dietary cholesterol intake was related to higher risk of hypercholesterolemia in males.