An epidemiological study on the familial aggregation and the sequential changes of serum lipids and apolipoproteins in school children in a rural area of Awaji Island.

Abstract

An epidemiological survey on serum lipids and apolipoproteins in school children in Goshiki-cho, Awaji-Island was carried out from 1985 to 1988 and their relations to blood pressure, anthropometric values, nutritional intake and a family history of hypertension were investigated. Parent-child and sibling-sibling correlations of the values were also analyzed. The results obtained were as follows: 1. During a 3-year follow-up from 11 to 14 years of age, serum levels of apo AI, apo AII, apo B and LDL cholesterol decreased at 12 years of age in both males and females. A tracking phenomenon was observed in serum levels of lipids and apolipoproteins. 2. Males at 10-14 years of age with a family history of hypertension (FH+) showed significantly higher systolic blood pressure and erythrocyte Na/K ratios than those without such a family history (FH-). The FH+ group (both males and females) had lower serum HDL cholesterol and higher levels of apo B, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride. 3. Significantly positive correlations were observed between apo AI levels of mother-son pairs and between those of elder and younger brother pairs. A positive correlation was observed between apo B levels of elder brother-younger sister pairs. Serum levels of total, HDL and LDL cholesterol in school children were closely correlated with the levels of the respective cholesterols in parents. Similar correlations were observed between sibling-sibling pairs.