ESPE Abstracts

Background: People with Down syndrome (DS) are considered to be atherosclerosis-free. However, obesity predispositions and thyroid gland dysfunction that accompanies this syndrome can influence on the heart ischemic risk.

Aim: The aim of the study was the evaluation of lipid profile of children with DS and estimation of omega-3 supplementation effect on serum lipid profile.

Materials and methods: The group constituted 69 children with DS (41 boys), average age 4.1 (±3.5) years. 102 tests of lipid profiles were obtained – total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides (TG). The children were divided into two groups A – (36.4%) supplemented, B – (63.6%) not supplemented. Statistica 10 was used to perform the statistical analysis.

Results: Concentration of lipids was evaluated basing on sex and age centile charts. It was stated: Total cholesterol - 22.8% above 75 percentile (pc.) and 11.4% above 95 pc.; LDL–25% above 75 pc. and 8.3% above 95 pc.; TG–25.7% above 75 pc. and 17.6% above 95 pc.; HDL–24.7% under 25 pc. and 11.7% under 5 pc. Negative correlation between the level of TG and the age of children (P<0.05; R=−0.297) was found. Average value of the total cholesterol/HDL ratio (cholesterol/HDL) was 3.52 (±1.09), that is increased in 42.5% children. Children with DS had pharmacologically aligned thyroid function. Group A in comparison to group B was characterized with a significantly lower level of TG, a significantly higher level of HDL and lower chol/HDL ratio of 3.48 (vs 3.99 in group B).

Conclusion: Performed study confirmed the presence of serum lipid profile disorders in children with DS. Taking all this into account, some recommendations should be done in order to enable monitoring and treatment of lipid disorders in this group of patients. In the context of this research, supplementation of children with DS using preparations containing polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 is justified, due to its beneficial effects on lipid disorders.