HDL biology
A high triglyceride to HDL cholesterol ratio predicts elevated CETP activity in children (Indian J Pediatr 2021)
Original title: Increased Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein and Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Activities in Children and Adolescents Presenting High Triglyceride/High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) Ratio
In 150 children and adolescents aged 7 to 14, researchers examined the relationship between the triglyceride to HDL cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and CETP, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and paraoxonase 1 activities. Twenty-five children with a TG/HDL-C ratio of 3.0 or higher had significantly higher triglycerides, CETP activity (250 versus 223% mL per min, P less than 0.01) and Lp-PLA2 activity, along with lower HDL cholesterol, than age-matched children with a lower ratio. The TG/HDL-C ratio was independently associated with CETP activity (r-squared equals 0.29, beta equals 0.49, P less than 0.01) and Lp-PLA2 activity in multiple linear regression, indicating that children with an atherogenic TG/HDL-C profile already show elevated CETP activity and altered lipoprotein metabolism.
Original abstract
Objective: To explore the association between Triglyceride/High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) index and these enzymes and proteins in a pediatric population.
Methods: Children and adolescents (7-14 y old) were recruited (n = 150) and anthropometric data were registered. Glucose, TG, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-C plus cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities were determined.
Results: Twenty-five individuals presented TG/HDL-C ratio ≥ 3.0. These individuals exhibited higher TG [164 (126-186) vs. 65 (48-72) mg/dL; p < 0.01] CETP [250 (232-263) vs. 223 (193-237)% mL/min; p < 0.01] and Lp-PLA2 (4.5 ± 1.9 vs. 3.5 ± 1.3; p < 0.05) plus lower HDL-C [41 (37-49) vs. 52 (48-62) mg/dL; p < 0.01] compared to an age-matched group with TG/HDL-C < 3.0. TG/HDL-C ratio was associated to CETP (p < 0.01) and Lp-PLA2 (p < 0.05). Multiple lineal regression analyses showed TG/HDL-C index as an independent predictor of CETP (r2 = 0.29; beta = 0.49; p < 0.01) and Lp-PLA2 (r2 = 0.21; beta = 0.32; p < 0.05) activities.
Conclusion: Children and adolescents with TG/HDL-C ≥ 3.0 presented a more atherogenic lipid profile and higher CETP and Lp-PLA2 activities, which would indicate alterations in lipoprotein metabolism and quality.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.