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Serum lipoprotein profile in children from a biracial community: the Bogalusa Heart Study
Insights
Serum lipoprotein profiles in children reveal racial and sex differences. Pre-beta-lipoprotein was higher in white children, alpha-lipoprotein in black children, indicating early atherosclerosis risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Lipid Metabolism
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Understanding early atherosclerosis development is crucial for long-term cardiovascular health.
- Lipoprotein profiles in childhood are key indicators of future cardiovascular risk.
- The Bogalusa Heart Study provides a unique dataset on pediatric lipid profiles in a biracial community.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize serum lipoprotein profiles in a biracial pediatric population.
- To investigate age-related and sex-related variations in lipoprotein levels.
- To identify racial differences in lipoprotein metabolism during childhood.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of serum lipoprotein profiles (beta-, pre-beta-, and alpha-lipoprotein) in 3182 children aged 5-14 years.
- Comparison of lipoprotein levels between white and black children, and between boys and girls.
- Assessment of age-related changes and correlations between different lipoprotein fractions.
Main Results:
- Significant racial differences observed: higher pre-beta-lipoprotein in white children, higher alpha-lipoprotein in black children.
- Girls exhibited generally higher beta- and pre-beta-lipoprotein and lower alpha-lipoprotein levels than boys.
- Age-related trends showed increased pre-beta-lipoprotein and decreased beta-lipoprotein with age (11-14 years).
- Inverse correlations between alpha-lipoprotein and beta-/pre-beta-lipoprotein were stronger in white children.
Conclusions:
- Childhood lipoprotein profiles exhibit significant racial and sex-based variations, potentially reflecting early atherosclerosis risk.
- Age influences lipoprotein levels, with notable changes in pre-beta- and beta-lipoprotein during pre-adolescence.
- The findings suggest distinct lipoprotein dynamics between racial groups, necessitating tailored approaches for hyperlipoproteinemia evaluation in children.
- Using population-specific distributions and percentiles is recommended over fixed upper limits for identifying hyperlipoproteinemia in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
Serum lipoprotein profiles in 3182 children, ages 5-14 years, were studied in a biracial community as part of the Bogalusa Heart Study to describe the early natural history of atherosclerosis. White and black children showed similar mean levels of beta-lipoproteins. Pre-beta-lipoprotein levels, however, were significantly higher in white shildren, while significantly higher levels of alpha-lipoprotein were found in black children. Girls had generally higher levels of beta- and pre-beta-lipoprotein and lower levels of alpha-lipoprotein than boys, although the differences were not significant at each age group. With age there was little change in alpha-lipoprotein levels, a significant increase in pre-beta-lipoprotein levels and a slight but significant decrease between 11 and 14 years in beta-lipoprotein levels. The correlation of alpha-lipoprotein was negative with beta-lipoprotein and, to a greater extent, with pre-beta-lipoprotein. The above inverse relationships were significantly greater in white children than in black children, suggesting differences in lipoprotein profiles in the two groups. Lipoprotein values from a total community study are now available for comparison with the currently recommended upper normal limits for lipoproteins. Since only a very small percentage of children could be considered as hyperlipoproteinemic by those specific levels in this community, we suggest that distributions and percentiles be used to evaluate children for hyperlipoproteinemia.