Level of Non-high-density-lipoprotein Cholesterol and Its Related Factors in Chinese Han Students

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in Chinese Han students of varying ages and genders, and to find out its related factors. Methods: We examined 20208 Han students (10573 boys and 9635 girls) aged between 6-17 years old who came from 6 districts throughout China. The examination, performed during 2009-2010, involved a clinical examination and self-administered questionnaire. Based on the criteria defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children and adolescents in 2011, we defined high non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (total cholesterol minus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) at a level ≥3.75 mmol/l. We set gender, age, obesity, physical activities, sleep duration, eating patterns and sedentary activities as related factors and performed logistic regression analysis. Result: The percentage of high non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 4.1% in 6-17 years old children and adolescents in China. Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was significantly higher in girls than boys. Biological maturity was positively associated with non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. Gender, weekly sport frequency, eating patterns, biological maturity and obesity were the related factors of high non-high- density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Conclusion: The concentrations of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in children and adolescents are strongly determined by gender. Obesity, gender and biological maturity contributed to the variance in non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and should be considered in future evaluation of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol status. Children and adolescents who did more sports and ate more vegetables were less likely to have a higher non-high- density lipoprotein cholesterol level.