In the present study, serum total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels were positively correlated with SFA and MUFA, and negatively with PUFA, x3 and x6 fatty acids, and the P:S ratio. After correction for intramuscular fatness, only the relationship between total and LDL cholesterol and x3 fatty acids remained significant. These results indicate that serum cholesterol measurements are related to an unfavourable fatty acid profile in meat; most of the correlations can be explained by the level of fatness