title: Low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in childhood is associated with adolescent asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whilst emerging evidence from animal and cell experiments has shown high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to have anti-inflammatory effects consistent with a protective role in asthma, human studies investigating the relationship of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with asthma have produced conflicting results.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between serum lipids among Cypriot children aged 11-12 years and prevalence of asthma at age 15-17 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 3982 children, we assessed serum lipids, body mass index and maximal oxygen consumption at baseline (2001-2003) and explored associations with respiratory health at follow-up (2007) using multiple logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at age 11-12 years were found in subjects who reported ever asthma (58.2 vs. 60.0 mg/dL, P = 0.005) and active asthma (57.5 vs. 59.9 mg/dL, P = 0.010) in adolescence, in comparison with their respective reference groups. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides had no association with any of the asthma outcomes. In contrast, with estimated odds ratios of 1.89 (95% CI 1.19-3.00) and 1.89 (95% CI 1.02-3.53), ever asthma and active asthma respectively appeared particularly pronounced among those who at baseline had high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <40 mg/dL, even after adjusting for potential confounders including body mass index and maximal oxygen consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in childhood is associated with an increased risk for asthma in adolescence, suggesting a potential role of this lipoprotein in the pathogenesis of paediatric asthma.
authors.affiliation: Cyprus International Institute for Environmental & Public Health in Association with Harvard School of Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus. p.yiallouros@cut.ac.cy
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Yiallouros
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Savva
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kolokotroni
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Behbod
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeniou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chadjigeorgiou
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kourides
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tornaritis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lamnisos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Milton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL