Atherosclerosis and Its Risk Factors Among Hawaii Japanese

Abstract

The mortality rate from coronary heart disease (CHD) among Hawaii Japanese is intermediate between the rates for the indigenous Japanese and the U.S. Whites (Gordon 1957). Comparative studies of Japanese men in Hiroshima, Japan and in Honolulu, Hawaii show that the Hawaiian men eat proportionately more animal fat and animal protein and smaller amounts of carbohydrates than do indigenous Japanese. A larger proportion of the Hawaii carbohydrate load is simple (e.g. sugar) rather than complex (e.g. rice, potatoes, etc.) (Kagan et al. 1974). The Hawaii men are more obese, but only slightly taller than the Hiroshima men. They also have higher blood cholesterol, uric acid and glucose levels (Kagan et al. 1974). A comparative autopsy study has shown that the Hawaii men have substantially more severe degrees of atherosclerosis of the aorta and coronary arteries, as well as a great excess of myocardial infarction (MI) (Stemmermann et al. 1976). In this paper we relate autopsy findings in 45-75 year old Japanese-American men dying in Honolulu to a series of CHD risk factors and dietary characteristics measured during life.

This study has been funded by Contract NO1-HV-62955.