Reference Values for Serum Lipid Profiles in Iranian Adults: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional normative reference interval study
What was done
Using data from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, researchers determined age- and sex-specific reference values for serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-C, and LDL-C among 1,147 healthy adults (548 men and 599 women aged ≥20 years). TC, TG, and HDL-C were measured using enzymatic colorimetric assays, and LDL-C was calculated with the Friedewald equation for individuals with TG <400 mg/dL. Reference intervals were established following International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) guidelines using non-parametric methods for subgroups with n ≥ 120 and robust methods for subgroups with n < 120.
What was found
Reference ranges were: - Total cholesterol: 121.0–261.0 mg/dL in men and 117.8–235.9 mg/dL in women. - LDL-C: 54.1–175.2 mg/dL in men and 49.9–160.9 mg/dL in women. - HDL-C: 30.9–71.9 mg/dL in men and 36.0–83.9 mg/dL in women. - Triglycerides: 46.9–301.2 mg/dL in men and 38.1–184.2 mg/dL in women. All parameters except HDL-C were higher in men than women, and all showed an increasing trend with age.
Why it matters
This study provides population-specific reference intervals for lipid profiles in Iranian adults, supporting cardiovascular risk assessment and clinical decision-making.
Limits
The study is cross-sectional and limited to an urban cohort in Tehran, potentially limiting generalizability across other Iranian populations. LDL-C was calculated via the Friedewald equation rather than directly measured and was not calculated for TG ≥400 mg/dL. Specific exclusion criteria are not detailed in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports The Friedewald equation estimates LDL cholesterol in mg/dL as total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol minus triglyceride concentration divided by 5.