Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Mexican-American and Non-Hispanic White Children

BACKGROUND: Information concerning differences in cardiovascular disease risk factors between Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white children is limited. We conducted a study to determine if there were ethnic differences in cardiovascular disease risk factors in children and whether such differences were explained by differences in body mass index. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fasting glucose, insulin, and blood lipid concentrations, blood pressure, weight, and height were measured in a cross-sectional survey among 403 third-grade children in Corpus Christi, Tex. We found significantly higher fasting insulin and glucose concentrations among Mexican-American than among non-Hispanic white children. Mexican-American boys had slightly lower levels of HDL cholesterol and higher systolic blood pressure than non-Hispanic white boys. Ethnic differences in insulin and glucose were not explained by body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide preliminary evidence that ethnic differences in insulin, glucose, body mass index, and other risk factors occur as early as age 8 to 10 years. Additional research is warranted on differences in risk factors in Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white children and the potential importance of insulin in influencing the natural history of these characteristics.