Lipid profile norms in Indian children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric lipidology
• Public health nutrition

Background:

• Establishing normative data for lipid parameters in pediatric populations is crucial for identifying dyslipidemia.
• Existing lipid profile data in India may not accurately reflect current pediatric health trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine reference ranges for lipid profiles in healthy Indian children.
• To establish cut-off values for identifying abnormal lipid levels in this demographic.
• To compare findings with existing Western data.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, hospital-based study involving 410 Indian children aged 3-12 years.
• Measurement of plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).
• Calculation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) using the Friedrickson-Friedwald formula.

Main Results:

• No significant sex-based differences were observed in lipid parameters.
• Mean lipid values: TC 134.5 mg/dL, TG 91.1 mg/dL, HDL-C 34.15 mg/dL, LDL-C 80.1 mg/dL.
• Recommended cut-off limits: TC 190 mg/dL, TG 150 mg/dL, HDL-C 20 mg/dL, LDL-C 130 mg/dL.

Conclusions:

• Normative lipid profile values and cut-off levels for Indian children were recommended.
• Observed high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were lower than those reported in Western populations.
• These findings provide essential benchmarks for pediatric cardiovascular risk assessment in India.