Aim To study the relationship between DNA methylation level of intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM-1) and atherosclerosis (As) occurrence, development and changes of blood lipids. Methods The atherosclerosis patients (100 patients from Hui and Han ethnic with As) were confirmed by carotid artery Doppler ultrasound and the serum lipids were measured by ADVIA 2400 automatic biochemistry analyzer, ICAM-1 mRNA expression was determined by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The methylation status of ICAM-1 gene promoter region was examined using nest touch down methylation specificpolymerase chain reaction (nt-MSP). Results Compared with As patients from Han ethnic, ICAM-1 mRNA expression levels were promoted in Hui ethnic (P<0.001), and the levels of ICAM-1 promoter methylation was decreased in Hui ethnic (P<0.001). Compared with As patients from Hui ethnic, triglycerides (TG) concentrations was promoted in As patients from Han ethnic(P<0.001), and was negatively correlated with ICAM-1 promoter methylation (r=－0.5783, P<0.001). Conclusion ICAM-1 DNA hypomethylation is related to the occurrence and development of As and the changes of serum lipids in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Hui patients.