[Investigation of the blood lipid profile of a school population in Piedmont].

The lipidaemic profile has been evaluated in a series of 603 healthy children aged 13-14, within a programme for the prevention of atherosclerotic disease commenced in November 1980 at Health Unit 66 of the Region of Piedmont. Hyperlipaemia is among the environmental risk factors for ATS and more than any of the others it regards paediatric age and can be acted upon. Analysis of the results shows that 172 subjects (28.5%) present pathological values of one or more of the following laboratory examinations: total cholesterol, cholesterol-HDL, cholesterol-LDL, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B. In 17 children (2.82%), changes in lipidaemic balance were so marked that they prefigured a high risk of cardiovascular disease at adult age. All dyslipidaemic subjects were recommended a suitable, balanced antiatherogenous diet and later control of the altered examinations. Courses of dietary education in secondary schools were also instituted so as to make all students and their parents, teachers and the population at large aware of the problem.