title: Distributions and determinants of total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in Dutch children and young adults.
abstract: Serum total cholesterol and its putative determinants were measured in 5,089 subjects, ages 5-30 years, comprising 76% of the total population of two districts of the Dutch town of Zoetermeer. From this group, 596 subjects, ages 5-19 years, were randomly selected, and distributions and determinants of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were studied in 458 of them. The variables studied included body weight; Quetelet index; menarche; parental cholesterol; physical activity; consumption of coffee, alcohol, and tobacco; and use of oral contraceptives. Mean total cholesterol levels showed a decrease in both boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 16 years. Mean HDL cholesterol levels remained the same until the age of 17, after which they showed an increase for females and a decrease for males. Total cholesterol was associated with age, body weight (in those older than 15 years), and parental cholesterol concentrations. For HDL cholesterol, the most important determinants were gender, age, and body weight (the latter only for males 15 years and older). These findings suggest that during growth and maturation the determinants of serum cholesterol differ from those later on in life.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001824:Body Constitution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003069:Coffee; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D003069:Coffee; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D002784:Cholesterol