Lipid profiles, anthropometry and dietary habits of adolescent school boys in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Serum lipid profiles, anthropometric parameters, dietary habits and smoking practice were determined in 637 adolescent school boys in the 10th to 13th year of school (mean age 16.7 ± 1.3 years), to determine the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in later life. They all attended schools in Colombo, the capital city (n=416), and two other cities, Negombo and Kurunegala. Seven percent of the subjects had body mass index (BMI) values above a reference range (for age 14-16, > 23.5 kg/m2; older than 16 years > 24.5 kg/m2). The mean serum total cholesterol concentration was within the reference range (158.9± 27.2 mg/dL: 4.11± 0.70 mmol/L), but 16.5% had values >185 mg/dL. The percentages of subjects with high LDL (low density lipoprotein)cholesterol (>110 mg/dL) and apolipoprotein B (>85 mg/dL) concentrations were 21.9 % and 23.0% respectively, while low HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol (<35 mg/dL) levels were noted in 27.3% of subjects. A significant (p<0.001) positive association was noted between serum total cholesterol concentration and BMI. There was no significant difference in the mean BMI or total cholesterol levels of subjects from the three areas in the age group 15-16.9 years. However, in the age group 17-18.9 years, subjects in the Kurunegala area had a lower prevalence of risk factors ie. significantly lower BMI and serum total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations than those in other areas. Overall, smoking prevalence was 4.5%, and higher in Colombo than in Negombo and Kurunegala. Further, the mean intake of cholesterol was significantly lower and the fibre intake was higher among subjects in Kurunegala, than those in other areas. Thirty two percent of subjects had a family history of coronary artery disease, hypertension or diabetes and these subjects had significantly higher BMI values than those who did not have a family history of the above diseases, but their lipid patterns were similar. Thus high BMI was a major factor leading to hypercholesterolaemi.