Hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in Japan

Abstract Blood lipid levels have in general progressively increased in Japan over the years 1960–1978. Although the ischemic heart disease mortality is still low in Japan, it has been markedly increasing over this period. It could be that the increased IHD mortality reflects a greater proportion of fat and protein in the modern Japanese diet. However, at least a part of this increase could reflect the increasing age of the population. HDL cholesterol levels are higher in the Japanese than in the West: evidence is presented that this is environmental in origin rather than genetic.