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Low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in Turkish children: an important risk factor
A Işcan1, M R Yiğitoğlu, N Vurgun
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Celal Bayar, Manisa, Turkey.
Insights
Turkish children exhibit significantly low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, a potential risk factor for high coronary artery disease (CAD) incidence in adults. This study defines pediatric lipid profiles in Turkey.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric lipidology
- Cardiovascular disease risk factors
- Public health nutrition
Background:
- High incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Turkish adults.
- Lack of detailed pediatric lipid and lipoprotein data in Turkey.
- Need to establish reference ranges for pediatric lipid profiles in the Turkish population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define borderline lipid and lipoprotein levels in healthy Turkish children.
- To investigate correlations between lipids, lipoproteins, age, and BMI.
- To compare pediatric lipid levels with adult CAD risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 397 healthy Turkish children (5-14 years).
- Measurement of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL-C, and LDL-C.
- Statistical analysis of lipid levels, age, BMI, and lipid ratios.
Main Results:
- Mean lipid levels established for boys and girls; no significant gender differences.
- TG positively correlated with age and BMI in boys.
- Significantly low serum HDL-C levels observed in Turkish children compared to international standards.
- Children with low HDL-C showed a higher prevalence of abnormal TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios.
Conclusions:
- Serum HDL-C levels in Turkish children are profoundly low.
- Low HDL-C in childhood may contribute to the high CAD incidence in Turkish adults.
- Establishes a baseline for pediatric dyslipidemia screening in Turkey.
Abstract:
In Turkish adults, the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been found to be high. However, no detailed lipid, or lipoprotein data of children are available from Turkey. The present study was designed to define the borderline lipid and lipoprotein levels of sera in 397 healthy children (aged 5-14 years; 206 boys and 191 girls). Mean levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C, respectively) were found to be 150, 79, 46.7, and 87.6 mg/dL, respectively, for boys, and 152, 77.5, 46.3 and 90.5 mg/dL, respectively, for girls. Lipids and lipoproteins did not show any significant correlation with age and body mass index (BMI), except for TG in boys in whom TG levels were positively correlated with age and BMI. There were no significant differences in lipid and lipoprotein levels between boys and girls. As in the Turkish adult population, serum HDL-C levels of Turkish children were profoundly low on international comparison. Twenty-three (53%) of 43 children with low HDL-C level (< or = 35 mg/dL) had abnormal ratios of TC/HDL-C (> or = 5) and/or LDL-C/HDL-C (> or = 4.5), whereas only 13 (3.7%) of the remaining 354 children with a HDL-C level less than 35 mg/dL had abnormal ratios of TC/HDL-C (> or = 5) and/or LDL-C/HDL-C (> or = 4.5). The low levels of HDL-C in Turkish children may be associated with the high incidence of CAD in the Turkish adult population.