Table 4. Age-Adjusted Mean Serum Total Cholesterol Levels of US Adults 20 Years by Race/Ethnicity and Sex, 1988-1994 vs 1999-2002* Serum Total Cholesterol, mg/dL 1988-1994 1999-2002 P No. Mean (SE) No. Mean (SE) Value Mexican American All 4304 205 (1.2) 2122 202 (1.2) .09 Men 2157 205 (1.5) 998 204 (1.7) .66 Women 2147 205 (1.4) 1124 199 (1.4) .005 Non-Hispanic white All 6545 206 (0.8) 4338 204 (1.0) .13 Men 3051 204 (1.0) 2091 202 (1.5) .28 Women 3494 208 (1.0) 2247 205 (0.9) .03 Non-Hispanic black All 4243 204 (0.8) 1602 199 (1.4) .004 Men 1914 202 (1.3) 749 195 (2.0) .006 Women 2329 206 (0.8) 853 201 (1.7) .01 SI conversion: To convert serum total cholesterol to mmol/L, multiply by 0.0259. *Age-adjusted for the entire populaton by the direct method to US census population projected estimates for the year 2000 using the age groups 20 to 39 years, 40 to 59 years, and 60 years or older.42 Test of difference between the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) (1988-1994) and NHANES 1999-2002.