Low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in Turkish children: an important risk factor

Prevalence of dyslipidemia in school children of Kashmir valley

AIM

Increased incidence of CVD has been observed in recent years in the Kashmir valley (North India). Since the risk factor development of the cardiovascular diseases (CVD) takes place during childhood, we undertook an epidemiological survey to assess the prevalence of dyslipidemia in the school children of Kashmir valley.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

1131 children of 5-19 years of age were selected and evaluated for BMI, cholesterol, TGs, LDL and HDL levels from different areas of Srinagar city (urban) region of the Kashmir valley from June 2011-June 2014.

RESULTS

The frequency of dyslipidemia in Kashmiri children varied along the subjects. Hypertriglyceridemia was seen in 82.6% of the males and 47.6% of females in the age group of 5-9 years, 38.5% of males and 51.1% of females in the age group of 10-14 years and 24.7% of males and 35.9% of the females in the age group of 15-19 years. Low levels of HDL than normal were seen in 34.7% of males and 19% of females in the age group of 5-9 years. Similarly low HDL levels were seen in 17.9% of males and 15.5% of females in the age group of 10-14 years. The incidence of low HDL was also seen in 4.9% of males and 10.8% of females in the age group of 15-19 years.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study dyslipidemia was more common in centrally obese children and the most common component was high triglycerides and low HDL's. Female school children were at higher risk of developing CVD than males.

Evalution of Serum Lipid Profiles in Turkish Children Aged Two to Eighteen Years

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate dyslipidaemia in children according to age, gender, percentiles, mother's education level, breastfeeding duration and areas of residence.

METHODS

A total of 285 children (137 girls; 148 boys), aged between two and 18 years, were enrolled in this cross-sectional, epidemiologic study. Lipid profiles were assessed and its relation with sociodemographic features was evaluated.

RESULTS

Dyslipidaemia prevalence was 37.4% (n = 107). High very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are related with percentiles of the children (p = 0.006, p = 0.03, respectively). Gender was a significant factor for VLDL-C, which was higher in girls than boys (p = 0.04). Total cholesterol levels were high in 14 children (4.9%); 72 of the study group (25.3%) had high triglyceride levels; HDL-C levels were low in 52 children (18.2%).

CONCLUSION

All the parameters of dyslipidaemia are not so high in our region. However, as early detection of dyslipidaemia should begin in childhood, we should perform periodic checks to prevent cardiovascular risks.

[Obesity in schoolchildren from Merida, Venezuela: association with cardiovascular risk factors]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of obesity and associated cardiovascular risk factors in schoolchildren in our city, given the influence of these factors on the development of atherosclerosis.

METHODS

We studied a representative sample of second grade students composed of 370 children aged 7.82+/-0.62 years (47.8% girls and 52.2% boys); 52.4% were from public schools and 47.6% were from private schools. Surveys were performed and anthropometric measurements, blood pressure (BP) values and glucose and lipid profiles in capillary blood were determined.

RESULTS

A total of 9.7% (36 schoolchildren) were obese and 13.8% were overweight. There were no differences according to sex or school system. Abdominal obesity was observed in 69.4% (p<0.0001), normal-high BP (90-97th percentile) in 27.8% (p<0.0001), dyslipidemia in 66.7% (p<0.05) and metabolic syndrome in 38.9% (p<0.0001) of the obese children compared with 1.3%, 5.1%, 48.9% and 0.4% of the children with normal weight, respectively. No association was found between fasting hyperglycemia and obesity. There were no cases of hypertension or diabetes mellitus. The risk (odds ratio) for normal-high BP, dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome was 6.3, 2.2, 60.9, and 70.2 times higher in obese children than in non-obese children, respectively. A positive and significant correlation was found between waist circumference and body mass index with BP and the atherogenic indexes triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol/HDL-C and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/HDL-C (p=0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with cities in other countries, the city of Mérida, Venezuela, has an intermediate prevalence of overweight and obesity in schoolchildren. The high frequency of cardiovascular risk factors in the obese and its positive correlation with adiposity highlights the need to implement population-based strategies for its prevention in childhood.

The triglyceride/HDL-cholesterol ratio as a marker of cardiovascular risk in obese children; association with traditional and emergent risk factors

OBJECTIVES

To determine the presence of traditional and emergent cardiovascular risk factors and to evaluate the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Tg/HDL-C) ratio as a marker for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome (MS) in obese children.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty-seven prepubertal children of both sexes, between the ages of 6 and 12 yr, 20 normal-weight children, 18 overweight, and 29 obese subjects, were studied. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and fat mass (FM), were measured. Plasma glucose, serum insulin, lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), and leptin concentrations were quantified. Glucose and insulin concentrations 2 h post-glucose load were determined. The Tg/HDL-C ratio, homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA), and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were calculated.

RESULTS

Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures (MBP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), Tg/HDL-C, total cholesterol/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C ratios, basal and 2 h postload insulin, CRP, and leptin were significantly higher and the QUICKI index were lower in the obese group. MBP, Tg/HDL-C ratio, HOMA, CRP, and leptin levels showed a positive and significant correlation and QUICKI a negative correlation with abdominal circumference, BMI, and FM. The Tg/HDL-C ratio correlated positively with MBP. The frequency of MS in the obese group was 69%. While Tg/HDL-C ratio, CRP, and leptin were higher and the values of QUICKI were lower in subjects with MS, it was the Tg/HDL-C ratio and the BMI that significantly explained the MS.

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity increases the cardiovascular risk in childhood. The Tg/HDL-C ratio could be a useful index in identifying children at risk for dyslipidemia, hypertension, and MS.

[Values of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the pediatric population and risk of thrombosis]

INTRODUCTION

There is evidence of the protective effect of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol against atheroma plaque formation and of its role in cholesterol efflux from cells, as well as its anti-oxidative and inflammatory modulating response properties. Low HDL-cholesterol levels have been associated with a prothrombotic state.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between HDL-cholesterol and lipidic and hemostatic parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We studied 110 children (50 girls, 60 boys) aged between 6 and 7 years old. Lipid profile, D-dimer, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) and fibrinogen were determined.

RESULTS

The mean values of the studied parameters were as follows: total cholesterol (192.92+/-26.01 mg/dl), HDL-cholesterol (72.87+/-15.69 mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (109.46+/-23.30 mg/dl), triglycerides (56.24+/-20.35 mg/dl), apolipoprotein B (91.96+/-14.93 mg/dl), apolipoprotein A1 (168.4+/-24.55 mg/dl), lipoprotein(a) logarithm (1.76+/-1.36 mg/dl), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 logarithm (PAI-1) (3.77+/-3.93 U/ml), D-dimer logarithm (5.53+/-0.49 ng/ml) and fibrinogen (268.61+/-48.59 mg/dl). When the sample was divided into two groups according to HDL-cholesterol levels, children with lower levels showed significantly higher values of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol, fibrinogen and PAI. HDL-cholesterol levels were directly and significantly associated with total cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 and negatively and significantly associated with the total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio, fibrinogen and PAI.

CONCLUSION

The children studied had high HDL-cholesterol levels, which could be responsible for the high total cholesterol levels. High values of HDL-cholesterol are significantly associated with a reduction in thrombotic risk.

Paraoxonase, total antioxidant response, and peroxide levels in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are reported to play a role in inducing the proteinuria of nephrotic syndrome (NS). This study investigated paraoxonase (PON), total antioxidant response (TAR), and oxidant total peroxide together with serum proteins and lipoproteins in children with steroid-sensitive NS. The study included 40 children with steroid-sensitive NS (21 with acute-period NS in group I, 19 nonproteinuric while receiving steroids in group II) and 22 sex- and age-matched formerly nephrotic children in remission weaned from steroids (group III). The following parameters were determined: total peroxide, oxidative stress index (OSI), PON and TAR. Serum proteins and lipoproteins were also determined. Patients in the active phase of NS had significantly lower PON and TAR levels and higher OSI and total peroxide values than those in full remission; no differences were found in PON, TAR, or OSI values of groups I and II. Significant correlations were found between PON, TAR, and total peroxide. Serum total protein had a significantly positive correlation with PON and negative correlation with total peroxide in acute-period NS patients. Our results demonstrate greater oxidative stress and decreased antioxidants in the active phase of steroid-sensitive NS and while patients receive steroids than during full remission. Low-dose alternate-day steroids do not seem to decrease oxidative stress even while proteinuria ceases. Despite some conflicting data increased oxidation and/or decreased antioxidant response may be related to the pathogenesis of steroid-sensitive NS.

Anti-oxidant status in relation to lipoproteins, leptin and pro-inflammatory cytokines in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome

BACKGROUND

Reactive oxygen species and cytokines are reported to play a role in the proteinuria of nephrotic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate indirect evidence of oxidant activity together with leptin, lipoproteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome.

METHODS

A total of 40 children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (20 with newly onset or relapse comprised group I and 20 in remission while receiving steroids comprised group II) and 20 sex and age matched healthy control children were included. The following indirect parameters of oxidant activity were determined: serum malondialdehyde, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, catalase and whole-blood-reduced glutathione. Serum leptin, lipids and lipoproteins were also determined.

RESULTS

Similar glutathione, increased malondialdehyde levels and decreased superoxide dismutase and catalase activity were observed in group I patients compared with controls. There was no significant difference in these variables between group I and group II (P >0.05). Tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 concentrations were similar in patients and controls. Concentrations of interleukin-1beta and interleukin-8 were higher in the active phase of nephrotics compared with controls (P <0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between malondialdehyde and interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, leptin and lipoprotein (a) (P <0.05). There were significant negative correlations between anti-oxidants and leptin, lipoprotein (a) and several cytokines (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in the concentrations of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione are compatible with increased amounts of oxidation in steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome. Leptin and pro-inflammatory cytokines may be related to excessive protein permeability in nephrotic syndrome.