Lipid and Inflammatory Profiles of Adolescents, Adults and Older Adults – The Health Survey of São Paulo With Focus on Nutrition, Brazil (2015 ISA-Nutrition)

OBJECTIVES: Dyslipidemia is involved in the pathophysiology of chronic diseases (CD) through several processes such as inflammation. Considering the dearth of knowledge on inflammatory biomarkers and the increasing prevalence of dyslipidemia in Brazil, this study aimed at the identification of lipid and inflammatory profiles across age groups in Sao Paulo municipality. METHODS: Data on blood samples of 707 healthy individuals aged ≥ 12 years were collected throughout 2015 in the Health Survey of São Paulo with focus on Nutrition (2015 ISA-Nutrition) to obtain plasma lipid (non-HDL-c, LDL-c, HDL-c, HDL-c/LDL-c ratio, total cholesterol, VLDL-c and TAG and inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL1-β, IL6 and IL10). Individuals were categorized into three age groups: adolescents (12–19 years old, N = 166), adults (20–59 years old, N = 249), and older adults (≥60 years old, N = 292). Lipid and inflammatory profiles were analyzed through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) using the software R version 4.0.2. RESULTS: PCA showed that adolescents, adults and elderly individuals had similar lipid profiles. The 1(st) and 2(nd) principal components explained 54.6% and 23.6% of the variance with plasma non-HDL-c and TAG levels being the main contributors, respectively. In addition, PCA of inflammatory markers according to age group showed that relatively small portion of the variance (46.1%) was explained by the first two PCs with TNF-α and IL1-β, and PCR and IL1-β levels being the main contributors for the 1(st) and 2(nd) PCs, respectively. Results showed high similarity of lipid and inflammatory biomarkers among different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed similarity in lipid and inflammatory profiles among age groups, which raises special concern regarding the high risk for development of CDs among adolescents during adulthood. Public policies should address preventive strategies based on modifiable risk factors to prevent the onset of CDs among younger individuals, considering the substantial impacts on quality of life and life expectancy of the population. FUNDING SOURCES: São Paulo Municipal Health Department, Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education (CAPES).