SERUM-CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDE DISTRIBUTION IN 7767 SCHOOL-AGED GREEK CHILDREN

Objective. To elucidate associations of age and sex with serum cholest erol and triglyceride levels and to provide for the first time percent ile distribution data for pediatric lipids. Participants and Methods. A high sample of 7767 (3980 boys, 3787 girls) fasting schoolchildren, 6 to 14 years of age, were studied in Athens, Greece. Results. The mea n cholesterol ranged from 157 to 174 mg/dL for boys and from 158 to 17 2 mg/dL, for girls peaking at 9 years of age for both sexes. Triglycer ide levels also tended to increase gradually and to peak at 11 years o f age for both sexes. The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were highest at 9 years of age for both sexes and the low-density lipo protein cholesterol levels also tended to peak at 9 years of age for b oys and at 8 years of age for girls. Atherogenic indices ranged from 1 .54 to 1.68 for boys and 1.51 to 1.85 for girls. Conclusion. According to these findings, it could be suggested that diet changes in the Gre ek population, especially in children and adolescents, living in big c ities is significantly influencing their total cholesterol profiles th roughout the last 10 years.