Serum lipids, lipid peroxides and the care of children with high risk atherosclerotic family history.

Children of parents who had their first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) before the age of 45 years were investigated and divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 12 children: both their parents or one parent and grandparents suffered from AMI. Group 2 consisted of 55 children, each of whom had one parent with AMI. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and lipid peroxide (LP) were higher in these children and HDL-cholesterol values were lower than those of 39 control children. The extent of serum TC and HDL-C differences was similar in both high risk groups but the serum LP level was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. The serum free cholesterol (FC) level was higher in group 1 than in controls. Children were treated according to a program giving advice on diet, physical exercise and health education for 1 year. At the end of this period the serum HDL-C level increased in both groups, while LP and TC levels decreased. The high serum FC level did not change.