Distributions of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in Israeli Jewish children of different geographic-ethnic origins, ages 9-17 years

Negative relationships between growth in height and levels of cholesterol in puberty: a 3-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Previously, there were only a few reports on the negative relationship between pubertal growth in height and levels of serum lipid in boys. Detailed information on both genders is needed.

METHODS

We investigated the relationship between pubertal growth in height and serum lipid. Subjects were 1442 boys and 1350 girls followed up from age 10-11 years (the fifth grade level of elementary school) to age 13-14 years (the second year of junior high school). Anthropometric variables and serum lipids were measured by the same protocol at both ages.

RESULTS

From cross-sectional analysis, at both ages negative relationships between total cholesterol levels and height were found in both genders. On longitudinal analysis, height at age 10-11 years was one of the factors predicting the level of total cholesterol at age 13-14 years. In addition, negative relationships between increase in height and change in serum lipids (total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol) over the 3-year period were obtained in both genders. Thus, pubertal children who experience a large increase in height tended to show a decrease in serum lipids, and children who experience a small increase in height tended to show an increase in serum lipids.

CONCLUSION

In both genders, total cholesterol level in pubertal children is negatively associated with height. Height velocity is inversely associated with dynamic changes in serum lipids during puberty.

Dietary fat intakes in infants and primary school children in Germany

We report dietary fat intake data in groups of infants and children in Germany. A group of 148 healthy infants was followed prospectively from birth through the first year of life. After birth, 78.9% of infants were breast-fed; 50% were breast-fed at 3 mo and 9. 8% were breast-fed at 12 mo. Infant formula was given to 22% of infants after birth, 53% at 3 mo, and 58% at 12 mo. Complementary foods were consumed by 16% of infants at 3 mo, 97% at 6 mo, and 98-100% at 7-12 mo. In non-breast-fed infants, mean dietary fat intakes were 44.8%, 42.9%, 37.4%, and 35.7% of energy intake at the ages of 1, 4, 6, and 12 mo, respectively. Calculated energy and nutrient intakes were within recommended ranges and weight gain was normal. Therefore, we see no compelling reason to actively modify total fat intakes at this age. In 158 primary school children aged 6-11 y, 7-d checklist protocols showed 41% of energy intake as fat with approximately 50% as saturated fat. Because German children of this age are experiencing increasing rates of obesity and high serum cholesterol concentrations, a stepwise reduction of total fat and saturated fat intakes in primary school children appears desirable to improve long-term health.

Lipoprotein profile of children with asthma receiving long-term theophylline therapy: a preliminary study

Lipid profiles were determined in three groups of children: children with asthma receiving long-term therapy with slow-releasing theophylline, children with asthma not treated with theophylline, and a control group of children without asthma. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A levels and the high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein ratio were significantly higher among theophylline-treated children. The observed changes do not seem to increase the risks of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.