Reference intervals of serum lipid profile in healthy Indian school children and adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To develop age and sex specific reference intervals of serum lipid parameters in healthy Indian children in the age group of 6–17 years. Participants: Study subjects were selected from the schools of Delhi. Children with BMI either in overweight or obese category were excluded to generate reference intervals. The final analysis included 3076 children with BMI in normal range for age. Results: The mean ± SD, 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 97th centile values of lipid parameters are presented. All these parameters were significantly higher in girls than in boys. About 89.2% subjects had total cholesterol in acceptable range while 9.1% had borderline elevated and 1.5% had elevated TC. Optimal serum triglyceride levels were seen in 45.1% subjects while optimal levels of HDL cholesterol were seen in 0.3% subjects only. Conclusions: Reference intervals of serum lipid parameters for healthy Indian children (6–17 years) are presented.