A study of dietary cholesterol induced changes in serum lipid lipoproteins in healthy male children, adolescents and middle aged volunteers.

ABSTRACT

The present study comprised of 16 healthy male subjects of 8-12 years (Group A), 18 adolescent males (13-19 years) (Group B) and 20 middle aged volunteers (45-55 years) (Group C), who were fed a high cholesterol high fat diet (HCFD) consecutively for seven days. The serum lipid changes were noted. The diet was then withdrawn. Seven days later the lipid changes were again recorded. At basal stage, serum total cholesterol (STC), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were significantly higher in group C in comparison to Group A. LDL/HDL ratio was significantly lower in Group C than that of Group A. Seven days after feeding of HCFD significant elevations occurred in all the lipid subfractions of Groups AB. The rise in STC was mainly because of predominant rise in HDL leading to a significant fall in LDL/HDL ratio. In Group C, elevations occurred in all the lipid fractions except HDL that showed an insignificant rise. LDL/HDL ratio was insignificantly affected. After withdrawal of HCFD, all the lipid levels returned to normal except in Group A, where STC and LDL remained elevated. The LDL/HDL ratio again increased significantly. In conclusion, the serum lipid lipoprotein behaviour in response to HCFD is qualitatively different in young persons as compared to middle aged persons.