[Total plasma cholesterol and HDL in a Swiss population: what attitude and norms should be adopted?].

The reports on the effectiveness of blood lipid lowering in the primary prevention of ischaemic heart disease have promoted the development of statements and strategies for decreasing plasma cholesterol levels. As the risk of ischaemic heart disease gradually increases with the serum cholesterol level, a shift of the whole cholesterol distribution curve towards lower cholesterol values not exceeding 5.2 mmol/l is found to be desirable.