Age, maturation and serum lipid parameters: findings from the German Health Survey for Children and Adolescents

BACKGROUND: Recommendations on preventive lipid screening among children and adolescents remain controversial. The aim of the study was to assess age and puberty-related changes in serum lipids, including total cholesterol (TC), and high-density (HDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Non-HDL-C). METHODS: Using cross-sectional data from the National Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents in Germany (KiGGS 2003–2006; N = 13,676; 1–17 years), changes in distributions of serum lipids were visualized according to sex, age and maturation. Youth aged 10–17 years were classified as prepubescent, early/mid-puberty, and mature/advanced puberty. Multiple linear regressions were used to quantify the impact of pubertal stage on serum lipid levels, adjusted for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Among children 1–9 years mean serum lipid measures increased with age, with higher mean TC and Non-HDL-C among girls than boys. Among children 10–17 years, advanced pubertal stage was independently related to lower lipid measures. Adjusted mean TC, HDL-C and Non-HDL-C was 19.4, 5.9 and 13.6 mg/dL lower among mature/advanced puberty compared to prepubescent boys and 11.0, 4.0 and 7.0 mg/dL lower in mature/advanced puberty compared to prepubescent girls. CONCLUSIONS: Lipid concentrations undergo considerable and sex-specific changes during physical growth and sexual maturation and significantly differ between pubertal stages. Screening recommendations need to consider the fluctuations of serum lipids during growth and sexual maturation.