According to the results of a study published today in the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 19.6% of French people aged between 18 and 74 have an LDL cholesterol level greater than 1.6 g / liter of blood; in other words have an excess of bad cholesterol. These statistics are based on figures from the National Health Nutrition Study (ENNS) dating from 2006-2007.
Cholesterol is the essential component of cell membranes. It is transported in the blood by transport systems with very different roles: the LDL and HDL lipoproteins. This is why we distinguish between HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, together forming total cholesterol. HDL-cholesterol is also called good cholesterol because it cleans the arteries of poor quality lipid deposits. On the other hand, LDL, or bad cholesterol, deposits cholesterol in the arteries and forms small patches of fat and can eventually cause cardiovascular accidents. It is this bad cholesterol that affects 1 in 5 French people.
The most affected population is adults aged 45 to 65 because nearly 30% suffer from hypercholesterolemia (31.5% for 45/54 year olds and 31% for 55/64 year olds) followed by 65/74 year olds who are 28.2% to have an excessively high LDL-cholesterol level.
In this study, the average LDL cholesterol level of the French was calculated from 18 to 74 years old at 1.27 g / l, while the total cholesterol level (LDL + HDL) is on average 2.08 g / the. This numbers “place France in the middle of the rich countries”, according to Christine de Peretti, epidemiologist at the Institut National de Veille Sanitaire (InVS), main author of the article. In 2008, an analysis estimated the average cholesterol level at 2.03 g / l for all high-income countries.
The LDL cholesterol level not to be exceeded is determined according to the presence or absence of cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, diabetes or thehypertension. In France, an LDL cholesterol level is considered normal when it is less than 1.6 g / l if the person has no risk factor. But if it has one or more risk factors, this limit value is lowered to 1.3 g / l.
A balanced diet low in fat and rich in antioxidants as well as the practice of a regular sport activity can prevent excess bad cholesterol.
