Individual Trends in the Total Serum Cholesterol of Children and Adolescents Over a Ten-Year Period

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Abstract
The total serum cholesterol of 35 boys and 28 girls has been determined at 6-month intervals over a period of 10 years. The age at which determinations were started on each child varied. For purposes of presentation the group was divided into three age periods covering the years from 4 to 18. During childhood (4-10 years) in the group of 28 boys and girls studied, 12 decreased, 12 did not change, and 4 increased in their cholesterol levels. In the preadolescent period in boys (10-12 years) 7 of the 14 boys followed demonstrated a definite spurt, i.e., a 5-16% increase over their average childhood level. The girls did not show a comparable change at this age. The most remarkable change was evident during the period of rapid adolescent growth in both boys and girls. Eighty percent of the 30 individuals studied decreased in their cholesterol levels during their adolescence. The extent of this decrease was not related to the length of the individual's adolescent period but was related to the height of the cholesterol at the start of his or her adolescence, i.e., the higher the initial level the greater the percentage decrease. These data illustrate the changes which take place in the cholesterol levels of children and adolescents. It is evident that such changes make the process of relating the total cholesterol of one individual to another, of the same individual to himself, and of cholesterol to other variables during this age period more complex than is apparent from cross-sectional studies.