This is a community-based study on the relationship between serum cholesterol (CHO)/triglyceride (TG) and dietary habits/life styles of persons living in a central Taiwan Town. Door-to-door interviews were carried out by the Yang-Ming Crusade, and fasting blood for CHO and TG tests was drawn by public health nurses from Pu-Li Health Station. Univariate analysis found that significant variables correlated with CHO were age (+), locality, non-fish seafood (+) and pungent food (+). Significant variables correlated with TG were age (+), sex, locality, smoking (+), alcohol (+) and physical activity (-). Stratified by age (> or = 50 and < 50) and by sex respectively, only one significant interaction item--age x organ meat consumption--was found; those who consumed organ meat more frequently had higher TG, if they were less than 50 years of age. This was not true for those aged 50 and over. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression revealed that after controlling for all of the other covariates, significant variables correlated with CHO were age (OR = 1.92, 95% C.I. = 1.37-2.69), pungent food (OR = 1.91, 95% C.I. = 1.26-2.89); locality (OR = 0.53, 95% C.I. = 0.35-0.80 for sub urban area; and OR = 0.74, 95% C.I. = 0.50-1.08 for rural area); sea food consumption (OR = 1.50, 95% C.I. = 0.94-2.40); and smoking (OR = 0.69, 95% C.I. = 0.48-0.99).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)