This research was carried out in a sample of 96 adults from a rural community undergoing a socioeconomical transition with the aim of evaluating their risk of atherosclerosis. Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides levels were measured in blood and a simplified food intake questionnaire was applied. A sample of 116 middle class urban subjects of similar age and sex were studied to compare the data. Although food consumption in both groups was different, the intake saturated fat was very similar. No significant differences were found regarding blood cholesterol and its fractions. Data show that the socioeconomical transition of the rural community is most unfavorable for their health, since besides all malnutrition-infection problems during infancy, adults present a chronic diseases risk similar to that of the urban population. It is possible that the poor population, due to their recent changes in food consumption habits, is in the border of a real chronic diseases epidemic, mainly of the atherosclerosis and thromboembolic type.