THE EFFECT OF URBANIZATION ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF CORD SERUM-LIPIDS IN RIYADH, SAUDI-ARABIA - A PILOT-STUDY

The objectives of this study were to examine the distribution and effe cts of sex and urbanization on cord serum lipids, and to determine the cut-off point for calculating prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia in neonates in Saudi Arabia. The study sample was 200 full-term newborns at four different hospitals selected on a quota basis from the urban a nd rural areas of Saudi Arabia. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and hi gh density lipoprotein (HDL) were the serum lipids assayed. The result s showed that the serum total cholesterol and HDL concentration were s ignificantly higher in urban than in rural areas. However, there was n o significant sex differential in the lipids. The cut-off points for t he calculation of prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia were 1.79 mmol/l in rural areas and 2.56 mmol/l in urban areas. The study also showed that the 95th percentiles of the three lipid parameters were lower tha n those reported from other countries, e.g Australia and Finland. This study provides the distributional form of total cholesterol, HDL chol esterol and triglyceride in cord blood, and may serve as a pilot for a large-scale study which incorporates the prevalence of familial hyper cholesterolaemia in Saudi Arabia.