High Density Lipoprotein Particle Size in Children: Relation to Atherogenic Dyslipidemia

Atherosclerosis begins in childhood. Protection from atherosclerosis is provided by high-density lipoprotein (HDL), a heterogeneous particle, which includes several subclasses differing in size, density and apolipoprotein content. The objective of this study was to document the relevance of assessing HDL particle size as another feature of dyslipidemia related to the develpment of atheosclerosis during childhood. For that purpose, HDL particle size in 268 community-based children (137 boys and 131 girls), 7–13 years old, was measured by gradient gel electrophoresis, and relationships of HDL particle size to plasma lipids parameters and the anthropometric indices were analyzed. There was no gender difference in HDL particle diameter. The results of analysis revealed significant positive correlations between HDL particle diameter and HDL-cholesterol level (r=0.363, p<0.01), apolipoprotein AI level (r=0.310, r<0.05) and low-density lipoprotein particle (LDL) size (r=0.290, p<0.05), while there was an inverse correlation with atherogenic index (r=–0.316, p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between HDL particle size and triglyceride levels in the overall analysis (n=268), however, when this relation was analyzed in the limited HDL size range below 11 nm, a significant inverse relation appeared between particle size and TG levels (r =–0.546, P<0.01, n=75). These findings indicate that the general shift toward smaller HDL particle size was associated with dyslipidemia characterized by higher atherogenic index and triglyceride level, lower HDL-C level and smaller LDL particle size. Therefore, HDL size may represent another relevant marker of atherogenic lipid metabolism.