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  • Title: Distributions and trends of serum lipid levels among United States children and adolescents ages 4-19 years: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
    Author: Hickman TB, Briefel RR, Carroll MD, Rifkind BM, Cleeman JI, Maurer KR, Johnson CL.
    Journal: Prev Med; 1998; 27(6):879-90. PubMed ID: 9922071.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis begins in childhood and progresses into adulthood. The reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, such as elevated serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, in childhood may reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Lipid distributions among children and adolescents were examined using the most recent nationally representative data. METHODS: Data from 7,499 examinees in NHANES III (1988-1994) were used to estimate mean and percentile distributions of serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides in children and adolescents aged 4 to 19 years. The estimates were analyzed by age, sex, and race/ethnic groups. Trends in mean total cholesterol were examined for 12- to 17-year-olds using data from NHES III (1966-1970), NHANES I (1971-1974), and NHANES III (1988-1994). RESULTS: For children and adolescents 4 to 19 years of age, the 95th percentile for serum total cholesterol was 216 mg/dL and the 75th percentile was 181 mg/dL. Mean age-specific total cholesterol levels peaked at 171 mg/dL at 9-11 years of age and fell thereafter. Females had significantly higher mean total cholesterol and LDL-C levels than did males (P < 0.005). Non-Hispanic black children and adolescents had significantly higher mean total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels compared to non-Hispanic white and Mexican American children and adolescents. The mean total cholesterol level among 12- to 17-year-olds decreased by 7 mg/dL from 1966-1970 to 1988-1994 and is consistent with, but less than, observed trends in adults. Black females have experienced the smallest decline between surveys. CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide a picture of the lipid distribution among U.S. children and adolescents and indicate that, like adults, adolescents have experienced a fall in total cholesterol levels. Total cholesterol levels in U.S. adolescents declined from the late 1960s to the early 1990s by an average of 7 mg/dL. This information is useful for planning programs targeting the prevention of cardiovascular disease beginning with the development of healthy lifestyles in childhood.
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