Serum lipids and lipoprotein levels in Costa Rican 13-18 year-old teenagers

Adverse levels of serum lipids tend to persist over time into adolescence a nd young adulthood, underlying the progression of Coronary Artery Disease ( CAD). Therefore, the lipid profile of Costa Rican adolescents and its relat ionship with dietary intake, physical activity and Body Mass Index (BMI) wa s evaluated in a total of 322 adolescents ages 13-18 years from urban and r ural areas of San Jose, Costa Rica. Levels of Total Cholesterol (TC) and HD L-C (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) were significantly higher in urb an adolescents than in rural youngsters. No differences were found between LDL-C (Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) and triglyceride levels among u rban and rural adolescents. TC, HDL-C and LDL-C levels were higher in femal es than in males. The mean LDL/HDL ratio was 2.3 with no differences betwee n gender and area. Over 20% of adolescents showed borderline TC levels (4.4 2-5.17 mmol/L) and 10% borderline LDL-C levels (2.86-3.35 mmol/L). The prop ortion of females with borderline TC and LDL-C was higher than the proporti on of males. No differences were found between areas. Around 50% of adolesc ents showed borderline HDL-C levels (0.91-1.17 mmol/L) and over 55% present ed borderline triglyceride level (1.02-1.46 mmol/L). The prevalence of bord erline and high triglyceride levels (greater than or equal to1.47 mmol/L) b etween urban and rural adolescents was similar. However the prevalence of h igh triglyceride levels was higher in females (22%) than in males (14%). An independent positive relationship was found between LDL-C, triglyceride, t he cardiovascular fitness score and BMI. Likewise a negative relationship w as found between cardiovascular fitness, BMI, gender and HDL-C. This study suggests that primary prevention programs are required to decrease the prev alence of cardiovascular risk factors among Costa Rican adolescents.