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Serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels in 4-year-old children are associated with parental levels and track over time

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 463–469 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

There are only a few studies linking dietary fat intake to serum lipid levels in young children. Our objective was to prospectively evaluate serum lipid levels from infancy to early childhood, and to explore their possible association with dietary, growth and parental factors.

Subjects/Methods:

Children (n=127) followed from early infancy were examined for serum lipid levels, anthropometry and dietary intake at 4 years of age. We also studied possible associations with parental anthropometric and blood biochemistry data collected from 122 mothers’ and 118 fathers’ when children were 4 years of age.

Results:

Serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and the apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-1 ratio (apo B/apo A-1) showed significant tracking from infancy to 4 years. Furthermore, children's TC levels correlated with paternal TC level from 6 months to 4 years, but with maternal only at 4 years. In girls, both LDLC and HDLC correlated with parental LDLC and HDLC. In all children, intake of saturated fatty acids (SAFAs) was higher than recommended, and in 90% of the children polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake was lower than recommended.

Conclusions:

Serum lipid levels values tracked from infancy to 4 years and were associated with parental values. Higher serum lipid levels at 4 years compared with 6–18 months of age may result from changes in the quality of dietary fat. We therefore suggest that intake of dietary fat in 4-year-old children should be more focused on quality. Furthermore, as there were strong associations between the child and parental serum lipid levels this supports the view that family-based rather than individual intervention is preferable.

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Acknowledgements

We are most grateful to all of the participating children and their parents, and to research nurse Margareta Henriksson for help with collecting the data. We also thank associate professor Hans Stenlund, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Public Health Sciences, Umeå University, for invaluable statistical support. This study was supported by grants from the Goljes Memory Foundation, the Oskar Foundation and the Mayflower Charity Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food and Nutrition, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    I Öhlund & A Hörnell

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    I Öhlund, O Hernell & T Lind

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  1. I Öhlund
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  4. T Lind
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Correspondence to I Öhlund.

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Öhlund, I., Hernell, O., Hörnell, A. et al. Serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels in 4-year-old children are associated with parental levels and track over time. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 463–469 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.14

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