Effects of Lifestyle and Dietary Behavior on Cardiovascular Risks in Middle-aged Korean Men

Lifestyle and dietary behavior intervention as the primary prevention of lipid disorder seems safe and compatible with other treatments of cardiovascular diseases. Cross-sectional associations between lifestyle factors and dietary behavioral factors with plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels were analyzed in 189 middle-aged men in Suwon, Korea. Overnight fasting plasma levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein(HDL)-cholesterol, triacylglycerol and glucose were analyzed. Blood pressure and anthropometric data were also measured. Lifestyle factors such as smoking status, alcohol consumption and frequency of physical exercise were evaluated by a self-administered questionnaire. Questions regarding dietary behavior were also asked. The subjects were 43.8%${\pm}$7.9 years old, and 23.8%${\pm}$2.6kg/m$^2$. From stepwise regression analyses, significant correlates with total cholesterol level were body mass index(BMI), alcohol intake(negative), age and coffee drinking(model R$^2$=14.3%). BMI, breakfast-skipping, age, and sleeping hours were significant for triacylglycerol level(model R$^2$=15.8%). BMI, alcohol drinking(negative), age, and coffee drinking were significant for low-density lipoprotein(LDL)(model R$^2$=11.7%). Age(negative), BMI(negative), alcohol drinking, stress level(negative), physical exercise, and cigarette smoking(negative) were significant for high-density lipoprotein(HDL)(model R$^2$=12.1%). From stepwise regression analyses, excluding BMI and age as factors in the model, alcohol intake(negative) and coffee drinking were significantly correlated with total cholesterol level(model R$^2$=4.4%) : breakfast-skipping with triacylglycerol(model R$^2$=3.2%) : alcohol intake (negative) with LDL level(model R$^2$=3.4%) : alcohol intake, physical exercise and stress level(negative) with HDL level(model R$^2$=6.3%). The findings suggest that a healthy daily lifestyle and dietary behavior may have an anti-atherogenic effect by altering plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in middle-aged Korean men. (J Community Nutrition 2(2) : 119∼128, 2000)