The influence of a family history of CHD risk factors on serum lipoprotein levels in black children and adolescents.

This study evaluated the influence of a family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) and CHD risk factors on the total serum cholesterol/high density lipoprotein (TChol/HDL) and the low density lipoprotein/HDL (LDL/HDL) ratios of 84 black children (ages 7-11 years) and adolescents (ages 12-15 years). Fasting lipid determinations were measured on all subjects. A questionnaire was administered to each subject's parent to determine the frequency of myocardial infarction, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and obesity in first- and second-degree blood relatives. Based on three-way analysis of variance tests, significant stroke and age, diabetes and age, and obesity and age interactions in TChol/HDL and LDL/HDL were found. There was also an obesity and age and sex interaction effect on T.Chol/HDL. The results indicated that a family history of stroke, diabetes, or obesity can have an unfavorable effect on the TChol/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios in black adolescents.