Comparison of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and hyperglycaemia between buckwheat seed-consuming and non-consuming Mongolian-Chinese populations in Inner Mongolia, China

1. In the present study, a total of 3542 Mongolians in two adjacent counties of Inner Mongolia, China, were randomly sampled in a cross-sectional study to assess the association of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and hyperglycaemia with lifetime consumption of buckwheat seed as a staple food. A sample group of 961 participants was also examined for fasting serum concentrations of lipids and glucose. 2. Frequent alcohol consumption significantly contributed to the high prevalence rate of hypertension in the pastureland Mongolian population. 3. The age-adjusted prevalence rate of hypertension in Kulun participants who consumed buckwheat seed as a staple food was 18.22% (95% confidence interval (CI): 16.95%, 19.49%), whereas that in Kezhuohou participants, who consumed corn as a staple food, was 23.31% (95% CI: 21.92%, 24.70%). A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (P < 0.01). 4. Age-adjusted prevalence rates in Kulun participants compared with Kezhuohou participants for hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and abnormalities in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were 4.02% (95% CI: 2.24%, 5.80%) versus 7.76% (95% CI: 5.39%, 10.13%; P < 0.01), 26.58% (95% CI: 22.59%, 30.57%) versus 31.04% (95% CI: 26.59%, 35.13%; P < 0.05) and 4.66% (95% CI: 2.75%, 6.57%) versus 8.81% (95% CI: 6.30%, 11.32%; P < 0.01), respectively. 5. The age-adjusted prevalence rate of hyperglycaemia in Kulun participants was 1.56% (95% CI: 0.78%, 2.34%), whereas that in Kezhuohou participants was 7.70% (95% CI: 6.01%, 9.39%). The difference was significant (P < 0.01). 6. These findings suggest that the consumption of buckwheat seed may be a preventative factor for hypertension, dyslipidaemia and hyperglycaemia in the pastureland Mongolian population.