CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE INSULIN RISK IN MEXICAN-AMERICAN AND ANGLO-AMERICAN CHILDREN AND MOTHERS

Objective. To evaluate the relationship between insulin levels and car diovascular risk factors in children and determine whether it varies a mong ethnic groups. Methods. Cardiovascular risk factors and insulin l evels were compared in 144 Mexican-American and Anglo-American mother- child pairs, when the children were 11 years of age. Results. Although mean age did not differ between ethnicities, Mexican-American mothers and children both had a greater body mass index (mothers: 29.2 +/- 6. 2 vs 27.2 +/- 7.9; children: 21.7 +/- 4.7 vs 19.7 +/- 4.6) and sum of skinfolds than did Anglo-Americans. Triglycerides, very low-density li poprotein cholesterol, fasting insulin, and cholesterol/high-density l ipoprotein ratio were higher, while high-density lipoprotein cholester ol was lower in both Mexican-American adults and children compared wit h Anglo-Americans. After adjusting for measures of obesity, only high- density lipoprotein cholesterol levels remained significantly lower in Mexican-Americans. For both adults and children, higher quartiles of insulin levels were associated with significantly higher triglycerides , blood pressure and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and l ow-density lipoprotein cholesterol/apolipoprotein B levels (estimate o f dense low-density lipoprotein size). A summary variable representing cardiovascular risk factors present in adult syndrome X patients was higher in both Mexican-American adults and children than in Anglo-Amer icans. Conclusion. Mexican-American children and adults have higher le vels of many cardiovascular risk factors, and this appears related to higher insulin levels and overweight. Appropriate nutrition, weight co ntrol, and exercise at early ages could be important in slowing the de velopment of atherosclerosis.