Aim To investigate the correlation between the p53 gene codon 72 polymorphism and hyperlipidemia. Methods Blood samples were collected from 202 people in hyperlipidemia group（both the level of total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins increased） and 194 people in control group. PCR-RFLP and PCR method was used to detect the genotypes of p53 codon 72 polymorphism. Results The genotype of the p53 gene codon 72 was ArgArg/ArgPro/ProPro, and the frequencies of genotype in hyperlipidemia group were 39.1 %, 45.0% and 15.8%, respectively.The frequencies of genotype in control group were 28.4%, 55.7% and 16.0%, and the difference of distribution of genotype was not significant（P>0.05）. The frequencies of genotype of women in two groups were 42.8%, 42.1%, 15.1% and 27.3%, 58.0%, 14.7%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant（P0.012）. The genotype distribution of men in two groups was not significantly different. The differences of allele frequency distributions in the two groups and in men or in woman were not significant（P>0.05）. Conclusion There was a correlation between the genotype distribution of p53 gene codon 72 and hyperlipidemia. The risk of hyperlipidemia was increased in women who carried the Arg/Arg genotype. The genotype Arg/Arg may be a risk factor of hyperlipidemia.