[The interest of cholesterol levels in young children. Study in a population of 4,697 children aged 4].
BACKGROUND
There is a need to dispose of normal cholesterol levels in young children. In view of the paucity of such data in France, we analysed the results of screening conducted in children.


METHODS
We analysed the cholesterol levels of 4697 children, with a mean age of 4.3 years, attending a medical check-up in a Child Health Unit in a National Health Scheme centre in Paris. All the children were recruited consecutively during the year 2002.


RESULTS
The mean cholesterol level was of 4.4 mmol/L +/- 0.75. We detected a slight gender-related variation (the mean in girls and boys were of 4.5 +/- 0.76 and 4.4 +/- 0.74 respectively). The 95 percentile in girls and boys were 5.7 and 5.6 mmol/L, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time in France, we now have access to data on normal cholesterol levels in a large cohort of 4 year-old children. Screening for hypercholesterolaemia in children provides the opportunity to discuss dietary counselling.
Vincelet
C
C
Centre d'examens de santé de l'enfant, 96-98 rue Amelot, 75011 Paris, France. catherine.vincelet@cpam-paris.cnamts.fr
Bruckert
E
E
Le Corff
J
J
Boisson
M
M
Foucault
C
C
D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D017678:Sex Distribution
D002784:Cholesterol