A Comparative Study of Serum Cholesterol Levels in School Children and Their Possible Relation to Atherogenesis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In a study of approximately 1400 school children, aged 6 to 20 years of age, in Evans County, Georgia, the serum cholesterol and alpha/beta lipid ratios were compared by age, race, sex, height, weight and blood groupings. The results showed that serum cholesterol increased with age about 2.75 mg%/year for whites and about 3.8 mg% for nonwhites. There was no race difference in cholesterol except during the ages of 6 to 8 years when whites were higher. Beta ratios did not vary with age but appeared to be higher in the white race. There was no sex difference in the beta ratios but the white males aged from 6 to 10 years were definitely lower than the females. Height showed no relationship to cholesterol or the beta fraction but stockiness of the female child did show a slight association with serum cholesterol. Analysis of the blood grouping showed that type B persons appeared to be lower in serum cholesterol. Finally, the direct causal relationship between serum cholesterol levels and arterial wall lipid accumulation is questioned since the latter happens at a time when the former are well below 200 mg%.