CHARACTERIZATION OF LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN SUBCLASSES IN CHILDREN

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles are heterogeneous in density, size, and chemical composition, and this heterogeneity is thought to b e genetically influenced. In the present study, plasma LDL subclasses in 248 children aged 7 to 13 years were analyzed by gradient gel elect rophoresis. The prevalence of small dense LDL (SDLDL), a potent athero genic LDL, was 9.3%, which is lower than that reported in adults. Furt hermore, children with this LDL subclass showed increased body fatness and dyslipidemia, including elevated plasma triglyceride and apolipop rotein (ape) B concentrations and decreased plasma high-density lipopr otein (HDL) cholesterol and apo A-I concentrations, compared with chil dren without this phenotype. These findings suggest that in addition t o genetic factors, environmental factors that affect these cardiovascu lar risk factors may also influence expression of the SDLDL subclass. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.