Blood lipids as related to food intake, body composition, and cardiorespiratory efficiency in preschool children.

A group of 3-5-year-old children (n = 22) with a level of somatic development and physical fitness (modified Step test) that corresponded to a previously measured representative sample was studied. The depot fat proportion was 16.3 +/- 4%, and obesity was absent. Lean body mass (LBM) was 16.1 +/- 1.8 kg. As in previous studies, the fat intake was higher as compared to recommended allowances. The blood cholesterol level was 4.9 +/- 0.8, high density lipoproteins (HDL) 1.2 +/- 0.2, low density lipoproteins (LDL) 3.6 +/- 0.8, triglycerides 0.6 +/- 0.2 mmol/L, and creatine kinase (CK) 42.2 +/- 14.4 U/L. The step test index (STI) was 92 +/- 9, and the cardiac efficiency index (CEI) was 0.575 +/- 0.096. The sex differences were not significant, except for body weight. Marked variability was found in all characteristics measured. There were no significant relationships among somatic development, body composition, food intake, STI, CEI, blood lipids, and CK. The LBM/10 cm height index correlated significantly with CEI, CK, and fat intake.