Intrafamilial Associations of Lipid Profiles and the Role of Nutrition: The Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Abstract

Background: The role of gene and environment in the genesis of abnormal lipid profile is still a controversial issue. Objective: To clarify the importance of certain parental risk factors associated with lipid profiles of children and adolescents. Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional population-based study in district 13 in the east of metropolitan Tehran.One hundred and thirteen eligible families comprising 455 subjects (including 229 offspring, aged 5–25 years) were enrolled into the study. Anthropometric data were measured using a standard protocol. To measure lipid profiles, venous blood was obtained in the morning after the subjects had fasted for 12–14 h overnight. Dietary intakes were assessed by means of a 2-day dietary recall questionnaire. Results: The chances of having elevated serum total cholesterol were higher in sons of fathers with high cholesterol intake (OR = 3.1; CI = 1.1–9.2) and mothers with high saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake (3.4; 1.1–10.8). Positive correlations were seen between the energy intake of fathers and serum total cholesterol of their daughters (r = 0.34, p < 0.01); between the SFA intake of fathers and serum triglycerides (TGs) of their sons (0.29, p < 0.01) and between mothers’ body mass index and daughters’ serum TGs (0.23, p < 0.03). The chances of having low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were lower in sons of mothers with high carbohydrate intake (11.0; 2.8–42.8) and mothers with high serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (6.8; 1.7–27.0). There were higher chances of having elevated serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in sons with fathers having high SFA intake (4.5; 1.4–14.3), with mothers having high serum TGs (6.1; 1.3–29.0) and with mothers having high cholesterol intake (4.3; 1.2–15.2). Conclusion: The results indicate independent associations between diet contents and the lipid profiles of parents and their offspring as well as between lipid profiles and diet contents among spouses.