High cholesterol in children

[mom61508]

DD is 21 months old and has high cholesterol. Our ND is a little concerned about it should I be???

[tanyalynn]

I don't know if you should be concerned, but I'd investigate. First, how much out of the reference range? Are the norms for kids that age, that's really young, well-established? I'd really want to know if they have a good baseline, at least looking at what's typical in our society (separate from whether that reflects healthy kids).

Does anyone in the family have familial high cholesterol? There are some families that have really, really high cholesterol--it's not us, so I'm not sure what approach should be taken, but it's something to look into.

Look into the ref range for adults too. Cholesterol seems to be a lot more complicated than we used to think (where just total HDL and total LDL told us pretty much all we need to know), and there's a reasonable argument that total cholesterol somewhat above the 220 mark for adults isn't really an issue.

[Mama2Kayla]

I thought little kids were supposed to have high cholesterol? Is she nursing?

[mom61508]

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

I don't know if you should be concerned, but I'd investigate. First, how much out of the reference range? Are the norms for kids that age, that's really young, well-established? I'd really want to know if they have a good baseline, at least looking at what's typical in our society (separate from whether that reflects healthy kids).

Does anyone in the family have familial high cholesterol? There are some families that have really, really high cholesterol--it's not us, so I'm not sure what approach should be taken, but it's something to look into.

Look into the ref range for adults too. Cholesterol seems to be a lot more complicated than we used to think (where just total HDL and total LDL told us pretty much all we need to know), and there's a reasonable argument that total cholesterol somewhat above the 220 mark for adults isn't really an issue.

her cholesterol is 180, HDL is 37 and LDL is 129. Our ND wants me to avoid giving her so much saturated fat which i don't agree with.
My husbands side has high cholesterol but not sure about my side of the family.

Originally Posted by Mama2Kayla

I thought little kids were supposed to have high cholesterol? Is she nursing?

I'm not sure I need to find some good info on it but having a hard time. She is done nursing...we finished at 18 months.

[Llyra]

I never heard of a toddler being tested for cholesterol levels. Even the mainstream docs aren't doing that, are they? I was told that they were recommending starting testing at age 30.

[stilllearning85]

Yeah, I am also curious as to why she was tested so young. Interesting.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

They start testing cholesterol levels here at a year old now. I have declined it because I dont see the point.

[tanyalynn]

Originally Posted by mom61508

her cholesterol is 180, HDL is 37 and LDL is 129. Our ND wants me to avoid giving her so much saturated fat which i don't agree with.
My husbands side has high cholesterol but not sure about my side of the family.


I'm not sure I need to find some good info on it but having a hard time. She is done nursing...we finished at 18 months.

I don't know reference ranges for kids, esp young kids.

Here's a blog that discuss cholesterol--but it's only adult cholesterol levels--are...with citations and usually links to the studies/abstracts he's using to draw his conclusions...

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/

This one may be helpful, not sure, but Masterjohn's certainly WAPF-oriented...

http://www.cholesterol-and-health.co...erol-blog.html

But the familial high cholesterol thing? It's not normal high cholesterol, it's through the roof really, really high. Normal high cholesterol in the family may be worth addressing, may not, but I'd be more likely to reduce sugar and grains in general, up the veggies and use meat and fat as your individual circumstances dictate.

[mom61508]

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

I don't know if you should be concerned, but I'd investigate. First, how much out of the reference range? Are the norms for kids that age, that's really young, well-established? I'd really want to know if they have a good baseline, at least looking at what's typical in our society (separate from whether that reflects healthy kids).

Does anyone in the family have familial high cholesterol? There are some families that have really, really high cholesterol--it's not us, so I'm not sure what approach should be taken, but it's something to look into.

Look into the ref range for adults too. Cholesterol seems to be a lot more complicated than we used to think (where just total HDL and total LDL told us pretty much all we need to know), and there's a reasonable argument that total cholesterol somewhat above the 220 mark for adults isn't really an issue.

Originally Posted by Mama2Kayla

I thought little kids were supposed to have high cholesterol? Is she nursing?

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

I don't know reference ranges for kids, esp young kids.

Here's a blog that discuss cholesterol--but it's only adult cholesterol levels--are...with citations and usually links to the studies/abstracts he's using to draw his conclusions...

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/

This one may be helpful, not sure, but Masterjohn's certainly WAPF-oriented...

http://www.cholesterol-and-health.co...erol-blog.html

But the familial high cholesterol thing? It's not normal high cholesterol, it's through the roof really, really high. Normal high cholesterol in the family may be worth addressing, may not, but I'd be more likely to reduce sugar and grains in general, up the veggies and use meat and fat as your individual circumstances dictate.

Thanks Tanya...appreciate the help