Serum cholesterol levels of 395 children and some of their family members were measured as a part of Shimane Heart Study, the purpose of which was to obtain information on risk factors involved in adult vascular diseases, during childhood.
Mean serum cholesterol levels ± S.D. were 149.9 ± 22.4 ㎎/dl,152.0 ± 23.6 ㎎/dl, 140.7 ± 26.2 ㎎/dl, in 6,9, and 12-15 year-old children,respectively. No significant differences were observed between boys and girls, and between 6 and 9 year-old children. The differences between primary school pupils and junior high school children were statistically significant (p＜0.01). Mean values of cholesterol reached the lowest levels during puberty (13-15 yrs).
The family study revealed that cholesterol levels showed the same tendency among siblings. Cholesterol levels in mothers of high cholesterol children were high in 2 and low in 2 cases. Cholesterol levels were normal among all fathers of the high cholesterol group, and all parents of the low cholesterol group.Interrelationships between cholesterol and hemoglobin or total protein were not statistically significant.