Cholesterol and triglyceride levels and their development from 2 to 17 years of age

BACKGROUND: High blood cholesterol levels is important risk factor of an early atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease. Information on cholesterol level in children in essential for grading the risk and following its trends in the Czech population and for starting an effective prevention already in childhood. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fasting venous cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured in 1378 children and adolescents, 707 boys and 671 girls aged 1-17 years. Children with familiar hypercholesterolemia or with another illness influencing the measured data were excluded. The mean total cholesterol (TC) level was 4.46 +/- 0.92 mmol/l. It increased from the youngest age, culminated at the age of 13 and decreased afterwards. Mean HDL cholesterol value was 1.23 mmol/l. The lowest value was measured in the youngest age group. The highest values were reached at the age of 11 years and later. TC/HDL ratio was higher than 4.0 only between the age of 3 and 5. LDL cholesterol mean value was 2.70 +/- 0.92 mmol/l. The lowest values were found between 1 and 3 and 13 to 17 years. Triglyceride mean value was 1.22 +/- 0.79 mmol/l. It ranged from 1.53 mmol/l in the youngest age group to 1.03 mmol/l at the age of 7 to 9 years. The values in boys did not differ from those in girls. TC was higher in children with an increased body mass than in children with normal body weight. We did not prove any regional difference in the measured values. CONCLUSIONS: The desired TC value (< 4.41 mmol/l) was found in only 52% of children. In total 18% of all probands, but 26% of school age children belong into high risk category with TC above 5.20 mmol/l.