Elevated Concentrations in Childhood Are Associated w/ Increased Risk
Autopsy studies, such as the Pathological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth study and the Bogalusa Heart Study, have demonstrated that the atherosclerotic process begins in childhood. The earliest pathological finding is thought to be a fatty streak which is characterized by an accumulation of lipid filled macrophages within the intima of the artery. The progression ultimately results in a fibrous plaque thought to be responsible for adverse clinical outcomes such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.
Presence of fatty streaks and fibrous plaques was associated with increased traditional risk factors such as elevated cholesterol levels and hypertension. In the Bogalusa study, it was found that the fatty streaks increased with age with about 70% of young adults [who were previously had their risk-factor screened] had fatty streaks. The extent to which the intimal surface was covered with lesions was associated with elevations in total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides and lower HDL. The increased coverage was positively correlated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as dyslipidemia, high blood pressure and obesity. From these and other studies, it is increasingly evident that elevated cholesterol concentrations in childhood are associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
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Now I really know for certain who the American Academy of Pediatrics works for, and it is not for the sake of children . Good grief, whatever happened to just providing children with plenty of time for play and for sleep , a healthy diet with non-fluoridated water , non-toxic personal hygiene products, and foods that does not contain high fructose corn syrupy or sugars, dyes, GMO vegetables, soy beans, etc.,? I grew up in Iowa in the 1950s perfectly healthy without my parents giving me any drugs or sugary drinks other than Frosty Root Beer ;-) when I was down with the mumps and my homemade lemonade, and provided healthy foods for me to grow on, including raw milk and deer meat . Plus, I was allowed to have unstructured times of indoor and/or outdoor play and was allowed to sleep for 9 hours without interruption. I was so healthy, I was able to survive the effects of the vaccines I was forced to take by the schools and by the military as a child without any (immediate) permanent heath problems. Also, I am so glad that I have finished raising my two children … otherwise, I would have to constantly fight the school system, the doctors , the agriculture business, and the governmental departments that seem to want to poison us to death.
Clarify the role of cholesterol in neurological development. There are many neurologist who are horrified about challenging cholesterol production with statins.