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Samaha et al. Vessel Plus 2017;1:98-106 Vessel Plus
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1209.2017.18
www.vpjournal.net
Topic: Atherosclerosis and Related Diseases Open Access

Associations of lifestyle and dietary habits

with hyperlipidemia in Lebanon

Ali A. Samaha 1,2,3,4 , Fouad Zouein , Maya Gebbawi , Mirna Fawaz , Raheel Houjayri , Rana Samaha ,
4
1,2
6
5
4
Safaa Baydoun , Ali H. Eid 5,8
7
1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese International University, Beirut 14-6363, Lebanon.
2 Department of Medical Laboratory, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Zahle 11-1801, Lebanon.
3 Rayak University Hospital, Bekaa 11-1200, Lebanon.
4 Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut 11-5020, Lebanon.
5 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon.
6 Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon.
7 Reasearch Center for Environment and Development, Beirut Arab University, Bekaa 11-1200, Lebanon.
8 Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar.
Correspondence to: Dr. Ali H. Eid, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-
0236, Lebanon. E-mail: ae81@aub.edu.lb
How to cite this article: Samaha AA, Zouein F, Gebbawi M, Fawaz M, Houjayri R, Samaha R, Baydoun S, Eid AH. Associations of lifestyle and
dietary habits with hyperlipidemia in Lebanon. Vessel Plus 2017;1:98-106.
ABSTRACT
Article history: Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary and lifestyle habits on several
Received: 8 Jun 2017 blood lipid parameters in the Lebanese population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study
Accepted: 20 Jul 2017 for 2,000 individuals, of whom 1,003 completed the survey about their dietary and lifestyle
Published: 26 Sep 2017 habits. Anthropometric measurements and blood tests were performed and recorded. Results:
Up to 53.2% of the population was hypercholesterolemic. Gender and age contributed to the
Key words: prevalence of high levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or triglycerides.
Lipidemia, Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and high LDL-C levels was higher
cardiovascular disease, in smokers, physically inactive or those who consume fatty meat or eggs. Prevalence of
diet, hypercholesterolemia was not affected by consumption of whole milk, skimmed milk or fruits
Lebanon and vegetables. However, the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia and high LDL-levels was
higher in individuals who consumed whole milk, and lower in those who consumed skimmed
or fruits and vegetables. Conclusion: Hyperlipidemia affects more than half of the Lebanese
population. The finding that the majority of the individuals were unaware of their lipid profile
mandates warrant efforts for both patient and public education.

INTRODUCTION diseases including coronary artery disease (CAD)
and atherosclerosis. [2,3] Although increased levels
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) may
cause of mortality and morbidity in both developed play a protective role against CVD, [4,5] there is a
and developing countries. Although modifiable, positive correlation between increased serum levels of
[1]
hyperlipidemia remains a major risk factor for many cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), or low density lipoprotein

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