|Ranganathan, Rajeshwari - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED|
|Pownall, Henry - TULANE UNIVERSITY|
|Berenson, Gerald - TULANE UNIVERSITY|
Submitted to: Nutrition Reviews
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: April 28, 2005
Publication Date: June 1, 2005
Citation: Rajeshwari,R., Nicklas,T.A., Pownall,H.J., Berenson,G.S. 2005. Cardiovascular diseaes: a major health risk in Asian Indians. Nutrition Research. 25(6):515-533. Interpretive Summary: An Interpretive Summary Is Not Required.
Technical Abstract: Coronary heart disease rates have been reported in several parts of the world and have found to be unusually high in people originating from the Indian subcontinent. High coronary disease rates appear to be common to South Asian groups of different geographical origin, religion and language. This presents a challenge to understand the development of coronary artery disease. The high rates in South Asians are only partly explained on the basis of elevated serum cholesterol, smoking or hypertension. Low plasma HDL cholesterol, high plasma triglyceride and high prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus have been consistently found in South Asians overseas. This probably reflects a high underlying state of insulin resistance. Further studies are needed to determine whether this metabolic disturbance can account for the high rates of coronary artery disease in South Asians, and to identify possibilities for prevention.