ESTABLISHING REFERENCE TOTAL SERUM-CHOLESTEROL VALUES FOR SAUDI CHILDREN

Total serum cholesterol was measured in 1320 normal Saudi children age d 0-14 years. The result was 3.88 (0.83) mmol/L [mean (SD)] and there was no statistical difference between girls and boys. Results were low est in the 0-4 year age group and highest in the 5-9 year age group. P ercentile values were established for three age groups and compared wi th those published for American children; no statistical differences w ere observed. Unlike other developing countries Saudi children do not have lower serum cholesterol than their western counterparts. We belie ve that these findings reflect changing dietary habits and increasing affluence in Saudi Arabia.