Serum albumin levels in elderly rural Africans.

Reports on white populations indicate an inverse relationship between serum albumin level and total death rate, also death rates from cardiovascular diseases (CHD) and cancer. Among rural African blacks, CHD is absent, and diet-related cancers rare, so that albumin levels in the elderly would be expected to be elevated. Studies on 50 men and 50 women, representative elderly rural blacks, revealed mean values to be high, 47.6 +/- 4.9 g/l and 48.2 +/- 4.2 g/l. Levels were not significantly associated with Body Mass Index, blood pressure, serum cholesterol level, nor blood glucose level. Hence, in the setting described, even elevated levels of these variables appear less noxious to health than is the case in white populations, since such levels are consistent with low mortality from the diseases mentioned. Explanation of the relationship between serum albumin and life expectancy is unknown. Longitudinal studies are necessary to clarify the situation.