Cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, birthweight and central obesity in pre-school children

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between blood cholesterol and tr iglyceride, birthweight and central obesity in pre-school children, after c ontrolling for height and body mass index. METHODS: This was a longitudinal population-based study in south-west Engla nd. Research clinics were held when the children were 31 and 43 months of a ge, where anthropometric measurements were made and a non-fasting blood sam ple was taken andent height and body mass index. CONCLUSION: In the pre-sch analysed for triglyceride, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol values were calculated using the Friedewald equation. Central o besity was estimated using the ratio of waist circumference:arm circumferen ce (WC:AC). RESULTS: Complete blood lipid and anthropometric data were available for 38 5 children at 31 months and 470 children at 43 months. Height was negativel y associated with the concentration of triglyceride, and total and LDL chol esterol. There was little evidence for a relationship between body mass ind ex (BMI) and blood lipids at either 31 or 43 months. The only significant r elationship between birthweight and blood lipids was a negative association with HDL (and consequently a positive association with the ratio of total: HDL cholesterol) in boys at 43 months. Adjustment for current height and BM I had little effect on the associations between birthweight and blood lipid concentrations. WC:AC was positively associated with triglycerides and neg atively associated with HDL values in boys, and had a quadratic relationshi p with LDL concentrations among girls. These relationships were unchanged o r became stronger on adjustment for currool child, central obesity has a re lationship with triglyceride and HDL concentrations that is independent of current height and BMI. We have found no evidence that increasing birthweig ht is associated with a more favourable blood lipid profile at 31 and 43 mo nths.