Blood samples were collected from 197 healthy men and 378 women after an overnight fast. Serum total cholesterol was measured by the Zak-Henly method and serum triglyceride by the modified Fletcher method.
1. Both serum total cholesterol values and serum triglyceride values showed nearly a log-normal distribution curve by sex and age.
2. The median and the lower and upper normal limits (α=0.05) of serum total cholesterol were calculated theoretically and the values for men and women were: 20-29 age group, median for men 150.4mg/dl (lower and upper limits 105.4mg/dl-214.5mg/dl), for women 136.5 (103.3-180.2); 30-39 age group, men 162.1 (115.1-228.4), women 146.4 (96.4-222.3); 40-49 age group, men 163.7 (106.8-250.9), women 172.2 (113.7-260.6); 50-59 age group, men 174.6 (116.8-261.1), women 178.9 (123.4-259.4); 60-69 age group, men 159.0 (111.0-227.7), women 184.8 (152.2-224.4); over 70 age group, men 172.2 (130.5-227.2), women 174.5 (124.6-244.3).
3. The median and the lower and upper normal limits (α=0.05) of serum triglyceride were calculated theoretically and the values for men and women were: 20-29 age group, median for men 66.7 mg/dl (lower and upper limits 19.3mg/dl-231.8mg/dl), for woman 58.4 (23.5-145.3); 30-39 age group, men 74.4 (39.5-140.1), women 67.9 (28.4-162.3); 40-49 age group, men 85.2 (24.1-300.9), women 72.7 (31.7-166.3); 50-59 age group, men 81.1 (30.1-218.6), women 88.1 (36.2-215.0); 60-69 age group, men 78.2 (37.3-164.0), women 102.9 (38.5-274.2); over 70 age group, men 66.6 (15.6-283.3), women 98.2 (39.6-243.5).
4. The serum total cholesterol level increased with age, showing a peak in the sixth decade in men, and in the seventh in women. The cholesterol level of women was significantly higher than that of men in the seventh decade.
5. The serum triglyceride level increased with age, showing a peak in the fifth decade in men, and in the seventh in women. The triglyceride level of women was significantly higher than that of men in those over 60.