Significance of cholesterol in health and disease

Abstract

A large number of studies indicate that the process of atherosclerosis begins in childhood; and that this process is related to elevated levels of serum cholesterol which are often predictive of elevated serum cholesterol levels in adulthood. Despite substantial success in reducing coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in the past two decades, CHD disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Preventing or slowing the atherosclerotic process in childhood and adolescence could mean years of healthy life for many people. The US Department of Health and Human Services has recently published a report on these findings [National Cholesterol Education Program: Report of the expert panel on blood cholesterol levels in children and adolescents 1991]. In this and following series of articles, a summary from these data is discussed. The articles have been arranged in the following sub groups: 1) Cholesterol levels in children and adolescents. 2) Nutrition recommendations for healthy children and adolescents for cholesterol control. 3) Cholesterol detection, diagnosis and evaluation in individuals, and 4) treatment for normalizing levels of cholesterol.