Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides in Children and Adolescents

What’s ldl cholesterol?

Ldl cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance. It may be present in all components of your kid’s physique. It helps make cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D. The ldl cholesterol in blood comes from 2 sources. The primary supply is from the meals your baby eats. The second supply is from their liver. Your kid’s liver could make the entire ldl cholesterol they want.

Ldl cholesterol and different fat are carried via the blood. They’re within the type of spherical blobs known as lipoproteins. There are 2 major sorts of lipoproteins. One kind is low-density lipoproteins (LDL). The opposite kind is high-density lipoproteins (HDL).

What’s LDL ldl cholesterol?

What’s HDL ldl cholesterol?

LDL is usually known as unhealthy ldl cholesterol. However the physique does want LDL. In case your kid’s LDL degree is excessive, it will probably trigger plaque to kind within the arteries. This is named atherosclerosis. Additionally it is referred to as hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis can result in coronary heart illness. It’s a danger issue for coronary heart assaults.

LDL ought to be low. To assist decrease LDL, your baby ought to:

Not eat meals excessive in saturated fats or ldl cholesterol

Not eat too many meals with sugar and refined carbohydrates

Not eat too many energy

Get extra train

Maintain a wholesome weight

The sort of ldl cholesterol is named good ldl cholesterol. It helps take away LDL from the blood. It additionally helps forestall plaque within the blood vessels.

HDL ought to be as excessive as potential. To assist elevate HDL, your baby ought to:

Train for not less than 20 minutes, 3 instances every week

Not eat meals with saturated fats

Lose extra weight

What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are one other kind of fats discovered within the blood. Most of your teen’s physique fats is within the type of triglycerides.

Excessive ranges of triglycerides are linked with a better danger of coronary heart illness.

Excessive triglyceride ranges could also be attributable to any of those:

Diabetes

Hypothyroidism

Kidney illness

Liver illness

Gene that causes excessive triglyceride ranges in households (familial hypertriglyceridemia)

Weight problems

Some medicines

Consuming a whole lot of high-fat or sugary meals

Consuming a whole lot of alcohol

Ought to my baby have a blood lipid take a look at?

A lipid screening is a take a look at to take a look at the degrees of the fat within the blood. Previously, healthcare suppliers felt that kids and teenagers weren’t in danger for top levels of cholesterol. However we now know that kids and teenagers are in danger. This is because of issues comparable to:

Being inactive from an excessive amount of display time and never sufficient train

Excessive-fat or high-sugar diets

Weight problems

Household historical past of excessive levels of cholesterol

Kids and teenagers with excessive ldl cholesterol are at greater danger for coronary heart illness after they change into adults. Retaining blood levels of cholesterol within the regular vary reduces this danger.

Lipid testing by age

Your baby could have to quick earlier than the blood take a look at. This is determined by the kind of lipid take a look at achieved. Fasting means your baby shouldn’t eat meals or drink something however water earlier than the take a look at.

Below age 2. Lipid testing will not be suggested.

Ages 2 to eight. Testing is suggested in case your baby has different danger components for coronary heart illness. These embrace diabetes, hypertension, weight problems, publicity to cigarette smoke, or a household historical past of those. Different danger components embrace household historical past of early coronary artery illness or lipid dysfunction, kidney illness, or different continual inflammatory illnesses.

Ages 9 to 11. Testing is suggested. This may be achieved with both a fasting or non-fasting lipid profile.

Ages 12 to 16. Testing will not be suggested. That is due to altering lipid ranges throughout puberty. However testing is suggested in case your baby has danger components as famous above.

Ages 17 to 21. Testing is suggested. It is because lipid ranges are extra secure after puberty.

Understanding the take a look at outcomes

A full lipid profile may be an vital a part of your baby’s well being info. It reveals the degrees of every kind of fats within the blood. These embrace LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and complete ldl cholesterol. Your kid’s healthcare supplier can inform you what the outcomes ought to be to your baby. Typically, wholesome ranges are:

Some kids and teenagers (ages 2 to 19) have households with excessive ldl cholesterol or early coronary heart illness. In these instances, the Nationwide Coronary heart Lung and Blood Institute advises these ranges for ldl cholesterol:

Complete Ldl cholesterol

LDL-Ldl cholesterol

Acceptable

Lower than 170 mg/dL

Lower than 110 mg/dL

Borderline Excessive

170 to 199 mg/dL

110 to 129 mg/dL

Excessive

200 mg/dL or larger

130 mg/dL or larger

Treating excessive ldl cholesterol in your baby or teen

If the outcomes of your kid’s lipid exams are irregular, your kid’s healthcare supplier will work with you to create a therapy plan. Most kids and teenagers is not going to want medication. A nutritious diet, weight reduction, and extra bodily exercise could carry your kid’s blood lipid ranges to regular. The supplier will monitor lipid ranges and assist your baby make life-style modifications. Your kid’s supplier will discuss with you about medication if wanted.

On-line Medical Reviewer:
Callie Tayrien RN MSN

On-line Medical Reviewer:
Scott Aydin MD

On-line Medical Reviewer:
Stacey Wojcik MBA BSN RN

Date Final Reviewed:
2/1/2023