Abstract

Sixty eight children born in 1977 who were taking part in an unrelated study of childhood asthma were selected to have their serum cholesterol concentrations measured at birth, and at 4 months and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 11 years of age. Concentrations of high density lipoprotein were measured at 5 and 11 years. Cholesterol values increased rapidly from birth and plateaued at 1 year. There was a further small rise just before puberty. Tracking of values was seen after the age of 1 year, but did not become established until 4 years of age. The cholesterol concentrations in girls were marginally higher than those in boys. The mean (SD) values of cholesterol (mmol/l) for boys were: at birth, 1.7 (0.4); at 1 year, 3.9 (0.9); at 5 years, 5.2 (1.9); and at 11 years, 5.0 (0.7). For girls the corresponding figures were; at birth, 1.9 (0.6); at 1 year, 4.7 (1.0); at 5 years, 4.6 (0.7); and at 11 years, 5.1 (0.7). The mean (SD) high density lipoprotein concentrations (mmol/l) for boys were: at 5, 1.16 (0.35) and at 11, 1.51 (0.23). For girls they were 1.28 (0.30) and 1.56 (0.27), respectively. The serum cholesterol concentrations in these children were high compared with published figures from north America.