Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. VI. Serum apolipoproteins A‐I and B

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Abstract
The concentrations of apolipoproteins A-I and B were determined in 1,341 3- to 18-year-old children and adolescents from five urban and 12 rural communities. The analyses were made with radial immunodiffusion. The mean concentrations (± S.D.) of apo A-I and apo B were 152 ± 25 and 94 ± 22 mg/100 ml. respectively. 3-year-old children had the highest apo B levels which then decreased with advancing age in both sexes. Boys tended to have lower levels of apo B than girls. Apo A-1 concentration was significantly higher in the 9- and 12-year-old boys than in the other age groups but showed no age-bound trend in girls. The apo A-I to apo B ratio increased with age in both sexes. The concentration of apo A-I was significantly lower, and that of apo B higher, in children living in eastern Finland in comparison with those from the western part of the country. This difference and a higher HDL-cholesterol to apo A-I ratio in both sexes in eastern Finland may be asSociated with the regional differences in the prevalence of coronary heart disease in this country. Key words: adolescents, apolipoproteins, apo A-I, apo B, children, serum lipids.