Hypercholesterolemia in Children

ing to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (USNLM), hypercholesterolemia is, "... a condition characterized by very high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is produced in the body and obtained from foods that come from animals..." ¹

Some forms of hypercholesterolemia are hereditary. This condition has been linked to mutations in the following genes: APOB, LDLR, LDLRAP1, and PCSK9. 1

While most cases of hypercholesterolemia are caused by environmental factors, such as poor diet and lack of exercise. In children, hypercholesterolemia is often caused by genetics or a mixture of genetics and environment.1

According to USNLM, "The most common inherited form of high cholesterol is called familial hypercholesterolemia. This condition affects about 1 in 500 people in most countries. [It] occurs more frequently in certain populations, including Afrikaners in South Africa, French Canadians, Lebanese, and Finns." Inherited forms of hypercholesterolemia can cause even higher levels of cholesterol in the blood stream than types caused by diet and lack of exercise.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends treating pediatric hypercholesterolemia through dietary therapy. By controlling the amount of saturated fats and cholesterol that kids consume, the risk of high cholesterol levels and subsequent related illnesses can be drastically lowered. ² The dietary recommendations by the AAP include a low fat and low cholesterol diet, particularly by focusing on decreasing the amount of animal fat in the diet.

Left untreated hypercholesterolemia can lead to a form of heart disease called coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD occurs when excess cholesterol from the bloodstream deposits in the walls of blood vessels, especially in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, the coronary arteries. The cholesterol build up forms clumps, also called plaque, cause the artery pathways to narrow and harden. More clumps can latch onto older clumps, causing a larger blockage in the artery. This restricts the blood flow to the heart and can lead to angina (chest pains). CAD also increases the risks of heart attack.¹

According to the USNLM, "Inherited forms of hypercholesterolemia can also cause health problems related to the buildup of excess cholesterol in other tissues." These conditions include: xanthomas (cholesterol accumulated in the tendons, which results in growths in the tendons); xanthelasmata (yellowish cholesterol deposits under the skin of the eyelids); and arcus cornealis (cholesterol accumulations at the edges of the cornea, leading to a gray-colored ring). Xanthomas often affect the Achilles tendons and the tendons in the hands and fingers. ¹ Sources:

¹Dietary Therapy for Children with Hypercholesterolemia, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000201/675.html

²What is Hypercholesterolemia?, http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=hypercholesterolemia