Serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and apoB concentrations were estimated and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were calculated in 132 children aged 11·4–17·3 years. The effect of feeding was investigated by estimating postprandial values and also by studying the effects of a test meal. The distribution of all data was consistent with Gaussian apart from triglycerides which was log normal. Overall fasting values were [mean (standard deviation; SD)] cholesterol 4·5 (0·8) mmol/L, HDL cholesterol 1·5 (0·4) mmol/L, LDL cholesterol 2·6 (0·8) mmol/L, apoA-I 1·5 (0·3) g/L, apoB 1·0 (0·4) g/L and triglycerides 0·76 (0·38–1·51) mmol/L, the values for triglycerides being mean (95% confidence intervals). Girls had higher triglycerides than boys [0·82 (0·43–1·54) versus 0·70 (0·36–1·33)] and different effects of age on lipids were found, HDL cholesterol being negatively correlated with age in boys (r= −0·37; P<0·001), but not in girls, and apoA-I being negatively correlated with age in boys (r= −0·31;P=0·006), but positively correlated with age in girls (r = 0·32; P = 0·008). Triglycerides rose and HDL cholesterol fell following feeding and inconsistent effects were seen on apoA-I and apoB.
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