Reference Ranges for the Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Japanese Children and Adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify the age and sex-specific reference ranges for the non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDLC) levels in Japanese children.


METHODS
The subjects included 441,431 schoolchildren (207,015 boys, 234,416 girls) 9-16 years of age who participated in a screening and care program for lifestyle-related diseases from 2006 to 2011. The serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured, and the non-HDL-C levels were calculated. The serum lipid levels were analyzed according to age and sex.


RESULTS
The overall mean non-HDL-C level was 105.7±24.0 mg/dL, with a sex difference: boys= 103.0±24.0 mg/dL and girls=108.2±23.8 mg/dL. In boys, the median non-HDL-C level decreased gradually from 104 mg/dL in the 9-year-old age group to 96 mg/dL in the 15-year-old age group. The 75th percentile level was approximately 120 mg/dL in the 9- to 11-year-old groups and decreased at approximately 113 mg/dL in the 12- to 15-year-old groups, whereas the 95th percentile level was approximately 150 mg/dL in the 9- to 11-year-old groups and decreased at approximately 140 mg/dL in the 13- to 15-year-old groups. In girls, the median non-HDL-C level remained unchanged at approximately 105 mg/dL, with 75th and 95th percentile levels of approximately 122 and 150 mg/dL, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The non-HDL-C levels vary by age and sex. The age- and sex-specific reference ranges for the non-HDL-C levels may be a valuable tool for management with respect to preventing the development of atherosclerosis in childhood.
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Nihon University School of Medicine.
Yuriko
Y
Abe
Tomoo
T
Okada
Reiko
R
Sugiura
Kuniaki
K
Yamauchi
Mitsunori
M
Murata
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; C030104:lipoprotein cholesterol; D002784:Cholesterol