Ethnic differences in blood lipids and dietary intake between UK children of black African, black Caribbean, South Asian, and white European origin: the Child Heart and Health Study in England (CHASE).
BACKGROUND
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) rates are lower in UK black Africans and black Caribbeans and higher in South Asians when compared with white Europeans. Ethnic differences in lipid concentrations may play a part in these differences.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to investigate blood lipid and dietary patterns in UK children from different ethnic groups.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study in 2026 UK children (including 285 black Africans, 188 black Caribbeans, 534 South Asians, and 512 white Europeans) attending primary schools in London, Birmingham, and Leicester. We measured fasting blood lipid concentrations and collected 24-h dietary recalls.


RESULTS
In comparison with white Europeans, black African children had lower total cholesterol (-0.14 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.25, -0.04 mmol/L), LDL-cholesterol (-0.10 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.20, -0.01 mmol/L), and triglyceride concentrations (proportional difference: -0.11 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.16, -0.06 mmol/L); HDL-cholesterol concentrations were similar. Lower saturated fat intakes (-1.4%; 95% CI: -1.9%, -0.9%) explained the differences between total and LDL cholesterol. Black Caribbean children had total, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations similar to those for white Europeans, with slightly lower saturated fat intakes. South Asian children had total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations similar to those for white Europeans, lower HDL-cholesterol concentrations (-0.7 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.11, -0.03 mmol/L), and elevated triglyceride concentrations (proportional difference: 0.14 mmol/L; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.20 mmol/L); higher polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat intakes did not explain these lipid differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Only black African children had a blood lipid profile and associated dietary pattern likely to protect against future IHD. The loss of historically lower LDL-cholesterol concentrations among UK black Caribbeans and South Asians may have important adverse consequences for future IHD risk in these groups.
Donin
Angela S
AS
Division of Community Health Sciences, St George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom. adonin@sgul.ac.uk
Nightingale
Claire M
CM
Owen
Christopher G
CG
Rudnicka
Alicja R
AR
McNamara
Mary C
MC
Prynne
Celia J
CJ
Stephen
Alison M
AM
Cook
Derek G
DG
Whincup
Peter H
PH
D044466:Asian People; D044383:Black People; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D002149:Energy Intake; D004739:England; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D012923:Social Class; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D006113:United Kingdom; D044465:White People
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol