[Significance of cholesterol as a risk factor in children and adolescents]

Although nowadays there is still quite a controversy when it comes to accept that cardiovascular risk factors, e.g. hyperlipemias, exist right from paediatric age, we have already enough data to confirm this fact. First of all, it has been proved the presence of early atheroma injuries since paediatric age, as well as the relationship between lipid and lipoprotein serum levels and those injuries. Secondly, a clear tracking of those lipids during childhood reinforces this fact. And finally, the strong cholesterol and serum lipoproteins family aggregation actually confirm that hyperlipemias are a cardiovascular risk factor right from childhood.