The association between dyslipidemia and anthropometric indicators in black and white adolescents residing in Tlokwe Municipality, North-West Province, South Africa: the PAHL study

Abstract

Background: The dyslipidemia associated with excess weight is a risk for cardiovascular disease. Worldwide and in South Africa adolescent obesity has been reported. Objectives: To determine the association between dyslipidemia and anthropometric indices in black and white adolescents. Methods: The study involved 129 black and 69 white adolescents aged 12 to 16 years. Data collected included height, weight, waist circumference (WC) and skinfolds, blood pressure and blood for glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (Trig) and C - reactive protein (CRP). Results: WC correlated negatively with HDL in both blacks (p=0.042) and whites (p=0.008) and in whites it correlated positively with LDL (p=0.006); TC/HDL (p=<0.001) and LDL/HDL ratio (p<0.0001). WC/Hgt correlated negatively with HDL (p=0.028) and positively with LDL/HDL (p=0.026 and p<0.0001) in both races. In whites positive correlations were between WC/Hgt and TC (p=0.049); LDL (p=0.003) and TC/HDL (p<0.0001). BAZ correlated positively with TC/HDL ratio (p=0.004) and LDL/HDL ratio (p=0.002). The most common abnormalities were HDL and LDL. Conclusion: Whites exhibited more associations between dyslipidemia and anthropometric indicators as compared to Blacks, suggesting that there might be differences in the lipid metabolism or even susceptibility to risk factors in adolescents.