Relationship between change in height and changes in serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in adolescent males: the Bogalusa Heart Study.

The relationship between increase in height and changes in levels of serum lipids and lipoproteins in adolescent males were examined through a biracial sample of 397 individuals, ages 8-12 years, who were reexamined 5 years after the initial screening. Significant negative correlations were observed between height change and changes in levels of serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) after controlling for age, initial cholesterol level, height, weight, Tanner stage, and changes in Tanner stage and weight. There was significant inverse association between height change and change in the level of HDL-C in black males, while there was significant inverse association between height change and change in the level of LDL-C in white males. These associations were independent of age, sexual maturation, and weight. Thus, changes in levels of serum lipids and lipoproteins in males during adolescence are partly associated with the growth spurt in height.