The polymorphisms (Pvu II and Hind III) on the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene locus was investigated in a sample of 100 patients surviving previous myocardial infarction and 100 age matched healthy individuals selected from Han Chinese of Beijing area. In patient group a strong association was found between H+ allele of Hind III polymorphism and raised TG levels (P < 0.01). In control group P-P- genotype was observed to be associated with higher TG levels compared with P+P genotype of Pvu II polymorphism (P < 0.05). Combination of H+H+ genotype with P-P- genotype showed the highest TG levels among all nine kinds of genotypic combinations in patient group (P < 0.01). However, comparison of distribution of alleles and genotypes of these polymorphisms between patient group and control group demonstrated no significant difference. Our data suggest that the polymorphisms at the LPL gene, as the linkage markers with an aetiologic mutation at or around LPL gene, may constitute one of the genetic determinants for the population variation in plasma TG levels, as well as for the common dyslipidemia in Chinese populations.