The influence of somatic maturity on the relationship between the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein ratio and vascular health in children and adolescents with dyslipidemia.

INTRODUCTION

Both the triglyceride to HDL cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio and timing of pubertal maturation have been identified as independent contributors to the development of atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study was to determine the relationship between the TG/HDL ratio and measures of vascular health in children and adolescents with dyslipidemia stratified by somatic maturity. We hypothesized that somatic maturity would have a significant interaction with TG/HDL ratio and vascular health.

METHODS

This was a longitudinal analysis of 120 children and adolescents (age 8-14 years) with dyslipidemia recruited from a pediatric preventive cardiology clinic. At baseline and each follow-up visit, a non-fasting serum lipid panel was collected and vascular health (carotid artery intima--media thickness, pulse wave velocity, augmentation index) was assessed. Peak height velocity (PHV) was calculated at each visit, and participants were stratified into groups by maturity offset (pre-PHV, mid-PHV, post-PHV). A mixed model design permitted baseline and follow-up visits to be classified as discrete data points.

RESULTS

Of the n = 235 data points (pre-PHV = 23%, mid-PHV = 19%, and post-PHV = 58%), we identified no significant interaction between TG/HDL ratio, maturity offset, and measures of vascular structure or function. There was also no significant relationship found between TG/HDL and maturity group. Within the mid-pubertal group, there was weak relationship found between TG/HDL and augmentation index.

CONCLUSION

Despite the well-described relationship between early pubertal maturation and development of cardiovascular risk factors in adulthood, we found that vascular damage resulting from an elevated TG/HDL ratio is not independently associated with somatic maturity.