Prevalence of hyperlipidemia among Saudi school children in Riyadh

Coronary heart disease [CHD] constitutes one of the main health problems in Saudi Arabia, but little is known on the lipid profile of the juvenile population. We measured the prevalence of high-risk levels of serum lipids in 1390 boys and girls, aged 9 or 12 years, in Riyadh city. High-risk levels of total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], triglycerides [TG] and triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein [TC/HDL] cholesterol ratio were found in 32.7%, 33.1%, 34.1% and 22.0% of the students. The prevalence of high-risk levels of TG increased with age among boys and girls, while the prevalence of high-risk LDL decreased with age in girls. Mean levels of TC, LDL and the TC/HDL ratio were higher among girls than boys in the 9-year-old age group. Mean levels of TG and the TC/HDL ratio were higher among girls than boys in the 12-year-old age group.Conclusions: The prevalence of high-risk levels of serum lipids ranged from 32.7% to 34.1%. We emphasize the need to assess the prevalence of other CHD risk factors among our students and design a suitable control program

Nutritional status and its impact on health, intellectual development and scholastic achievement in pre-school and primary school children in Cairo

The present study aimed to assess the magnitude of malnutrition among pre-school and primary school children and its impact on health, intellectual development and scholastic achievement. The subjects of this study were [292] pre-school and [1707] primary school children chosen randomly from schools in Cairo Governorate during the first semester of academic year 1989/1990. The nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric measurement, dietary survey, and biochemical examination. Draw-A-Man test was used to measure the intelligene quotient. The scholastric achievement was assessed by score of children given through periodic and final academic examination. The results of this study yielded a positive correlation between nutritional status and intellectual development as well as scholastic achievement, and parents education and socio-economic standard. However, while a negative relation was found between nutritional status, I.Q, scholastic achievement, and family size and birth order of the child. The relation between haemoglobin concentration, urinary yrea nitrogen/creatinin ratio and the nutritional status, I.Q, and scholastic achievement of children was not statistically significant