Serum lipid levels were related to socio-demographic characteristics in a German population-based child cohort.
OBJECTIVE
Socio-demographic factors affect the development and lives of children and adolescents. We examined links between serum lipids and apolipoproteins and socio-demographic factors in the Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases Child (LIFE Child) study.


METHODS
The Winkler index and the Family Affluence Scale were used to define characteristics of the social status of 938 boys and 860 girls aged from birth to 19 years. We then used univariate and multivariate regression analyses to examine the socio-demographic impact on total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), cholesterol triglycerides and apolipoproteins A1 (ApoA1) and B (ApoB).


RESULTS
No significant influences on the Winkler index or the Family Affluence Scale were observed regarding the concentrations of serum lipids for total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol. However, and most importantly, children and adolescents with high social status and high family affluence showed significantly higher HDL cholesterol and ApoA1 levels than those with lower individual totals. A higher Winkler index was associated with significantly lower values for triglycerides and ApoB.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents with higher family wealth and social status showed a lower cardiovascular risk profile, as measured by the concentrations of HDL cholesterol and triglycerides as well as ApoA1 and B.
LIFE-Child-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.|Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany.|Centre of Paediatric Research (CPL), Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
Anne
A
Dathan-Stumpf
LIFE-Child-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.|Centre of Paediatric Research (CPL), Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
Mandy
M
Vogel
LIFE-Child-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.|Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany.|Centre of Paediatric Research (CPL), Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
Kristin
K
Rieger
LIFE-Child-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.|Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
Joachim
J
Thiery
LIFE-Child-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.|Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany.|Centre of Paediatric Research (CPL), Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
Andreas
A
Hiemisch
LIFE-Child-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.|Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany.|Centre of Paediatric Research (CPL), Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
Wieland
W
Kiess
D000293:Adolescent; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
Family Affluence Scale; LIFE Child study; Serum lipids; Socio-demographics; Winkler index