Cardiovascular risk factors in relation to the serum concentrations of copper and zinc: epidemiological study on children and adolescents in the Spanish province of Navarra.

This investigation was carried out to show the possible association between groups of children with extreme values of copper and zinc concentrations and cardiovascular risk indicators. Serum copper and zinc concentrations were analysed in a group of 3887 children from Navarra, Spain (both sexes. aged 4-17 years). Hypertension, unfavourable serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and cholesterol/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios), and degree of adiposity (weight, height, subcutaneous skinfolds, Quetelet's index and mean of subcutaneous skinfolds) were evaluated. Positive correlation was found between several lipid parameters and copper and zinc concentrations, i.e. degree of correlation related with age, except for copper/HDL and triglycerides/zinc ratios, where correlation remained negative at all points. Copper levels were correlated with adiposity parameters in an age-dependent fashion (Quetelet's index: r = 0.01 for ages 4-7 years to r = 0.10, p < 0.01 for ages 14-17 years; mean skinfold thickness: r = 0.05 for ages 4-7 years up to r = 0.18, p < 0.01 for ages 14-17 years). Most correlations between lipid parameters and copper and zinc are markedly amplified if adiposity parameters are taken into account. However, the only significant association was the established relation between high copper concentrations (> x + 2SD) and unfavourable serum lipid profile (LDL/HDL > 2.2).

[The Navarra study. Prevalence of arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity in the infant-child population of Navarra. Association of risk factors]. / Estudio de Navarra (PECNA). Prevalencia de hipertensión arterial, hiperlipidemia y obesidad en la población infanto-juvenil de Navarra. Asociación de estos factores de riesgo.

As part of an epidemiological study on cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents in Navarra, 5,829 children were studied. These children, of both sexes, were between 4 and 17 years of age and were selected at random from the public and private school population in Navarra. The prevalence of hypertension (HT) was 7.17 +/- 0.34%, hyperlipemia (LDL/HDL > 2.2) 15.70 +/- 0.49% and obesity (Quetelet I) 3.96 +/- 0.26%. Of the children and adolescents in Navarra 23.68% show some of these three associated risk factors. Obesity was significantly associated with HT and hyperlipemia, measured by LDL/HDL > 2.2 (but not when defined by cholesterol > 200 mg/dl). This association was greater when the pathology was defined by the Quetelet Index, rather than by the skinfold thickness. Hypertension was not associated with hypercholesterolemia (defined as LDL/HDL > 2.2). The association with hyperlipemia (measured by LDL/HDL) disappeared when the obesity effect was eliminated. It is deduced from these factors that if we don't take preventative health measures, the present children and adolescents from Navarra will suffer a high cardiovascular morbi-mortality when they become adults.

[A study from Navarra. Hyperlipidemia V. What is the best definition of hyperlipemia in childhood and adolescence?]. / Estudio de Navarra (PECNA). Hiperlipemias V. Cuál es la mejor definición de hiperlipemia en la edad infanto-juvenil?

As part of an epidemiological study on cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents in Navarra, lipids and lipoproteins were analyzed in 5,829 children of both sexes, between 4-17 years of age, and selected at random from the school population in our community. In this article, we analyze the different definitions for lipid risk during childhood, whether based on percentile values, according to age and sex of the child, of cholesterol, LDL/cholesterol, or risk quotients (C/HDL, LDL/HDL), or even on the absolute values of all of these parameters. An appropriate definition for hyperlipemia during childhood, once we know the average variations in the levels of lipids and lipoproteins according to age and sex, as well as the variations of the lipid risk prevalence according to its definition, would be: 1. Previous screening according to cholesterol serum levels: Values higher than the 70th percentile for each group according to age and sex: or higher than 185 mg/dl for children age 4 to 12 and 170 mg/dl for children age 13 to 17. 2. To calculate the LDL/HDL quotient among those selected children included in the definition of hyperlipemia when the quotient is higher than the 85th percentile for the patients age and sex, or it is higher than 2.2.

[A study from Navarra. Hyperlipidemias. Avarage scores and percentiles for lipids and lipoproteins in a population of children and adolescents. Correlation with anthropometric parameters]. / Estudio de Navarra (PECNA). Hiperlipidemias. Valores medios y percentilados de lípidos y lipoproteínas en una población infanto-juvenil. Correlación con parámetros antropométricos.

As part of an epidemiological study on cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents in Navarra, the following parameters: total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and C/HDL and LDL/HDL risk quotients were determined in 5,829 children. These children, of both sexes and between the ages of 4 and 17 years, were selected at random from the school population in our community. Average values and percentiles of these parameters were obtained for each group according to age and sex as a previous step to define the health condition or "lipid risk" in our population. When determining the correlation of these biochemical parameters with the anthropometrical parameters of BP, age, weight, height, Quetelet Index, body mass surface, skinfold thickness and the percentage of subcutaneous fat (after the necessary logarithmic transformations, adjusted to each age and sex group by Z-scores) we find that none of the correlation coefficients are significant. The triglycerides and the HDL-cholesterol have a low, but significant. The triglycerides and the HDL-cholesterol have a low, but significantly, correlation with the other lipid parameters. The lipid risk quotient (C/HDL, LDL/HDL) shows a higher correlation with LDL-cholesterol than with total cholesterol.

[Study from Navarra. Variations in the average arterial blood pressure level according to age, gender and body height]. / Estudio de Navarra (PECNA). Variaciones de los niveles medios de tensión arterial según edad, sexo y talla.

As part of an epidemiological study on cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents in Navarra, arterial blood pressure (BP) readings were taken in 5,829 children, including both sexes and aged between 4 and 17 years. The subjects were randomly selected from the public and private school population in our community. BP-age and BP-height percentiles were obtained for each sex and the physiological variations in BP according to these parameters was also analyzed. Systolic BP increased with age in both sexes throughout childhood. During adolescence, there is almost no variation in BP among girls, but in boys older than 13 years, there is a sudden increase. For this reason, boys have higher values than girls. Diastolic BP shows a linear increase in both sexes. BP increases with height in both sexes. In spite of the sudden rise in systolic BP among the boys taller than 145 cm, the increase in systolic BP in relationship to height is smaller and more homogeneous than the increase seen with age. As the BP variations with height are smaller and more homogeneous than those related to age, it is preferable to evaluate this parameter by BP-height rather than by BP-age.

[Study from Navarra. Hyperlipidemia II. Variations according to age and sex in the average cholesterol level, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in an infant-child population]. / Estudio de Navarra (PECNA). Hiperlipemias II. Variaciones de los niveles medios de colesterol total, LDL-colesterol y triglicéridos de una población infanto-juvenil según edad y sexo.

As part of an epidemiological study on cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents in Navarra, lipids and lipoproteins were analysed in 5,829 children. The study group was selected at random from the school population in our community and included students of both sexes between 4 and 17 years of age. In this article we describe the variations from 4 to 10 years of age in both sexes and decrease from that age on. Among males older than 14, they continue decreasing, while they become stable in females. For this reason, values during childhood are higher than during adolescence in both sexes, and within this period, males show lower levels than girls. Variations in LDL serum levels according to age and sex are similar to those recorded with cholesterol. The triglyceride serum levels increase in line with age among boys. With girls, something similar happens until they are 13. Starting from this age, there is an inversion showing lower levels than the male adolescents. In both sexes, levels during adolescence are higher than during childhood.