Changes in diet and lifestyle have led to a sharp increase in deaths linked to high levels of cholesterol in Asia, according to a study published on Wednesday.
Cholesterol-linked deaths from heart disease and stroke have been seen as a problem for high-income Western countries but the balance has shifted to Asia over the past four decades, according to an article in the journal Nature.
The study showed a small reduction of average cholesterol in the Middle East and North Africa, where levels are already lower than the global average.
The study examined data from more than 100 million people worldwide from 1980 to 2018, which suggested that changes in diet, behaviour and medication were behind the changes.
In 2017, so-called ‘bad cholesterol’ was linked to 3.9 million deaths worldwide with half of those in East, South-East and South Asia, it said. In 1990, Asian deaths were only responsible for one quarter of deaths.
The research found that China had some of the lowest levels of cholesterol in 1980 but was among the highest in 2018, while Belgium and Iceland saw some of largest declines.
Major cuts in European countries attributed to dietary changes and the increased use of cholesterol-controlling statins.
Cholesterol can be affected by a number of different factors so it was difficult to say specifically why levels had not changed in the Middle East, said one of the authors, Professor Majid Ezzati of Imperial College London.
He said it was likely that cholesterol levels in the Middle East had not shifted because the balance between animal and plant-based food had not much changed compared with Europe and Asia. He said improvements in healthcare may also have been significant.
China’s rising prosperity and changes in eating habits have been blamed for rising obesity and lifestyle-related conditions, such as diabetes. The authors of the report recommended changes to the Asian diet that replaced saturated fats with unsaturated ones and improvements in treatment.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
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Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
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Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
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Naga
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The specs
Engine: 3.6 V6
Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
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Jersey 147 (20 overs)
UAE 112 (19.2 overs)
Jersey win by 35 runs
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
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Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
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Manchester City 6
(D Silva 26', Sterling 38', 81', 87', De Bruyne 61', Jesus 68')
Watford 0
Man of the match: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
