Lifestyle and the development of dyslipidemia: a 4-year follow-up study of middle-aged Japanese Male Office Workers

To examine the lifestyle factors related to the development of dyslipidemia [low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ≥ 150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol < 40 mg/dL, or triglyceride ≥ 250 mg/dL], 979 dyslipidemia-free Japanese male office workers aged 35 to 54 years were followed up for four years. The numbers of new incidence cases during the follow-up period were 216 for high LDL cholesterol level, 109 for low HDL cholesterol level, and 78 for high triglyceride level. From the Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the incidence of high LDL cholesterol level were 0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.47-0.82] for consuming alcohol every day, 1.39 (95% CI: 1.10-1.77) for 5-kg/m2 increase in body mass index (BMI), 1.45 (95% CI: 1.10-1.91) for snacking between meals every day, and 1.64 (95% CI: 1.18-2.30) for not eating vegetables every day. As for the incidence of low HDL cholesterol level, adjusted HRs for current cigarette smoking, consuming alcohol every day, and 5-kg/m2 increase in BMI were 1.74 (95% CI: 1.17-2.59), 0.61 (95% CI: 0.41-0.89), and 1.79 (95% CI: 1.29-2.46), respectively. Adjusted HRs for the incidence of high triglyceride level were 1.73 (95% CI: 1.07-2.77) for current cigarette smoking, 1.74 (95% CI: 1.10-2.77) for 5-kg/m2 increase in BMI, and 0.50 (95% CI: 0.27-0.90) for working 10 h per day or more. These results suggest that an increase in BMI, current cigarette smoking, and snacking between meals every day is closely associated with an increased risk of atherogenic lipid profiles. On the other hand, alcohol consumption and eating vegetables every day may have an anti-atherogenic effect on serum lipid profiles