Question

The accompanying summary data on total cholesterol level (mmol/l) was obtained from a sample of Asian postmenopausal women who were vegans and another sample of such women who were omnivores. What is the purpose of this study?

1) To compare the total cholesterol levels between vegan and omnivorous Asian postmenopausal women
2) To determine the effect of diet on total cholesterol levels in Asian postmenopausal women
3) To investigate the relationship between total cholesterol levels and menopause in Asian women
4) To analyze the impact of veganism on overall health in Asian postmenopausal women

Answer 1

The study's purpose is to evaluate the impact of diet (vegan vs. omnivorous) on total cholesterol levels in Asian postmenopausal women, which is important for understanding potential cardiovascular health implications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of the study that looks at total cholesterol levels among different dietary groups of Asian postmenopausal women is essentially to evaluate the impact of diet on total cholesterol levels in this specific demographic. Clearly, the study is interested in how dietary habits, such as being vegan or omnivorous, are associated with the biological marker of cholesterol, which is closely linked to cardiovascular health.

Particularly, it seems aimed at determining whether a vegan diet, which typically lacks cholesterol and is lower in saturated fat, would result in lower total cholesterol levels compared to an omnivorous diet that includes animal products which usually contain more cholesterol and saturated fats.