Background: The aims of this study were to analyze the evolution of plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in school children of Cuenca city, Spain, between 1992 and 1996; and to study pubertal changes in 1992 cohort.
Subjects and methods: A longitudinal observational study was made in 642 schoolchildren 9-16 years old recruited in three public schools of Cuenca city. In 1992, 307 schoolchildren 9-16 years old were examined. On a second examination made in 1996 were examined children of the cohort of 1992 as well as other children who were 9-11 years old in 1996; and belonged to the same schools were recruited. Socio-demographics variables, weight, height, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and fasting plasma total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and triglyceride concentrations were determined (and in addition, the apoproteins A-I and B100 and lipoprotein (a) were determined in the second examination).
Results: Between the years 1992 and 1996 there has been a falling in total cholesterol concentrations of schoolchildren of the cohort of 1992 due to a decreasing in LDL-C and HDL-C levels, the levels total cholesterol ranged from 183.0 mg/dl to 163.3 mg/dl. Comparing the lipid concentrations of the schoolchildren who were 9 to 11 years old in the cohort of 1992 with the lipid concentrations who were 9 to 11 years old in the cohort of 1992 with the lipid concentrations of 1996 it has been found evidence of an important decreasing of total cholesterol and LDL-C, and a moderate increasing in the HDL-C, whereas triglycerides are stable.
Conclusions: Due to the decreasing of total cholesterol and LDL-C levels and the increasing of HDL-C, the lipid profile in schoolchildren of Cuenca city has improved during the 1992-1996 years. Total cholesterol and HDL-C concentrations of 1992 cohort have been a falling during the puberty.