The Relationship between High Dose Lead Exposure and Serum Lipids and Lipoprotein Levels.

This study sought to clarify the possible associations between serum lead level and serum cholestrol and lipoprotein levels in high dose lead exposed rabbits. Levels of serum lead, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglyceride in 11 male rabbits who were exposed to high dose lead (547ppm lead acetate in drinking water) were compared with those in 9 unex­posed subjects by SPSS package and student t test. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. Mean serum lead levels were significantly elevated from 36.24±10.1 μg/L in nonexposed group to 60.55 ±8.09 μg/L in the exposed group(P<0.001). The exposed subjects had significantly higher mean levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (P<0.001). In contrast, VLDL cholesterol and Triglyceride level was decreased( P=0.012). Serum lead level is positively associated with total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol.