BACKGROUND. Mortality from coronary heart disease in Finland has declined remarkably since the early 1970s. Most of the change has apparently been due to the active national strategy for reduction of serum cholesterol levels. This study was undertaken to estimate to what extent members of the Finnish parliament (MPs) have complied with the national recommendations.
Serum total and HDL cholesterol values were measured from MPs of three subsequent parliaments elected in 1987, 1991, and 1995.
From 1987 to 1995, the Finnish MPs showed a reduction of serum total cholesterol that was significant among males (-5.2;%, P