Lipidemic Status in Indo-Aryan (Bangladeshi) and Cushitic (Somali) Adults: A Comparative Pilot Study

Assessment of lipidemic status is crucial for predicting cardiovascular risk. However, few studies have compared lipid profiles in our population with other ethnicities. In this pilot study, we investigated and compared the lipidemic status of individuals of Indo-Aryan (Bangladeshi) and Cushitic (Somali) descent to explore potential genetic, lifestyle, and environmental influences on lipid metabolism. We enrolled sixty participants (30 Bangladeshi and 30 Somali) and measured the lipid profiles - including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides (TG) using standard spectrophotometric methods, apolipoproteins using standard immunoturbidimetric methods while the formula was applied to calculate LDL cholesterol (LDL-c). Bangladeshi subjects were older (26.1 ± 2.1 vs. 23.4 ± 2.3 years, p < 0.001) and had a higher body mass index (22.6 ± 3.2 vs. 19.4 ± 2.6 kg/m², p < 0.001) compared to Somali subjects. Compared to Somali, the percentages of HDL-c dyslipidemia was higher (80.0% vs. 43.3%, p = 0.017), followed by hypertriglyceridemia (23.3% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.052) and hypercholesterolemia (20.0% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.254) and elevated LDL-c (16.7% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.424). TC and LDL-c levels did not differ significantly between the groups but higher triglyceride levels were observed in Bangladeshi individuals (145±113 mg/dL vs. 78±36 mg/dL, p = 0.003) compared to the Somali group. ApoA1 levels were similar between groups, but ApoB levels were higher in the Bangladeshi group, though this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.408). On adjusting confounding variables, lipids and lipoproteins showed no significant association with ethnicity except HDL-c (β = 5.023, p = 0.020). In conclusion, despite similar apolipoprotein A1 and ApoB levels, the Bangladeshi ethnic group has lower HDL cholesterol compared to Somali adults, suggesting a greater cardiovascular risk relative to the Somali group.