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

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 ¼ 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.

Vitamin D Intake and Status in 6-Year-Old Icelandic Children Followed up from Infancy

“…Tracking is used in public health and epidemiology to describe the stability of a variable over time, attempting early identification of subjects at risk for diseases later in life [ 33 ]. The correlation we observed in serum 25(OH)D levels from 1 to 6 years of age was similar in strength as that observed for other biochemical variables in children, e.g., serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels from infancy to 4 years of age in a Swedish study [ 34 ]. We believe that our results merely provide motivation for further studies on tracking of vitamin D status in infancy and childhood and its clinical significance.…”

A population-based resource for intergenerational metabolomics analyses in pregnant women and their children: the Generation R Study

“…A large familial resemblance in metabolite concentrations has been suggested, which seems to be largely genetic (Draisma et al 2013;Kettunen et al 2016;Rueedi et al 2014). In cross-sectional studies, correlations of metabolites between parents and their offspring vary strongly, ranging from weak to relatively strong (Ellul et al 2019;Halvorsen et al 2015;Ohlund et al 2011). Partly in line with these previous studies, we observed that AA and NEFA concentrations were lower in childhood as compared to cord blood samples, whereas concentrations of PL and Carn were higher in childhood.…”

“…Less is known about the metabolite profiles from birth throughout childhood and the influence of maternal metabolite profiles in pregnancy on these profiles. A study among 127 children from Sweden showed that concentrations of conventional lipids, including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol increased between the age of 6 months and 4 years, whereas triglyceride concentrations decreased (Ohlund et al 2011). A study among 500 children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 years observed that concentrations of AA, NEFA, and Carn.a dropped after the neonatal period.…”

Metabolomics: population epidemiology and concordance in Australian children aged 11–12 years and their parents

“…We found positive correlations between parents and children for the same lipid measures (although measured using NMR) consistent with previously reported findings. One study reported a positive association between the serum lipid levels of 4-year-old children (n=127) and their parents (122 mothers and 118 fathers)44 whereas another study of children aged 6–18 years (n=255) and their parents (n=179) found that the age of the child influenced the degree of correlation of several lipid measures, with older (10–18 years) children more similar to their parents in terms of triglyceride levels than younger individuals (6–9 years) 12…”