Serum apolipoproteins A-I and B in 2,854 children from a biracial community: Bogalusa heart study

Serum apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) and apolipoprotein B (apo B) profiles were examined in 2,854 children, 5 to 17 years of age, from a total biracial community. Black boys had higher apo A-I levels than white boys (P less than .001), whereas girls showed no such race-related difference. Black-white difference in apo A-I persisted among boys with similar triglyceride levels provided that triglyceride levels were high. The ratio of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)/apo A-I was higher in black than in white children, irrespective of sex (P less than .001). Only black children showed sex-related differences for apo A-I (boys greater than girls, P less than .05). Sex-related differences were seen in white children for HDL-C/apo A-I ratio (boys greater than girls, P less than .001) and in children of both races for apoB (girls greater than boys, P less than .01). Age-related changes were more apparent for apo A-I and HDL-C/apo A-I ratio than for apo B. A progressive decrease in apo A-I was noted during sexual maturation only in white boys. The magnitude of inverse association of apo B to HDL-C was less strong in black children (P less than .01). Although apo A-I was inversely correlated with very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides in white children, no association was noted in black children. These findings are indicative of intrinsic metabolic differences among the race-sex groups, resulting in variability in lipoprotein composition and levels and atherogenic potential.