Serum Lipoprotein(a) Levels in Japanese Children with Normal Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

In Japanese children with normal LDL-C levels (<140 mg/dL), the median serum Lp(a) concentration was 8.0 mg/dL, with a 95th percentile of 29.7 mg/dL, independent of body size and LDL-C.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Normal Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (n=146). Intervention: Normal LDL-C levels (<140 mg/dL). Primary outcome: Median serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

In Japanese children with normal LDL-C levels (<140 mg/dL), the median serum Lp(a) concentration is 8.0 mg/dL, with a 95th percentile of 29.7 mg/dL, and levels are independent of body size and LDL-C. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Kazushige Dobashi; Yoshifusa Abe

doi:10.5551/jat.66281

January 1, 2026Journal of Atherosclerosis and ThrombosisOpen Access

Serum Lipoprotein(a) Levels in Japanese Children with Normal Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

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Key result

Median Lp(a) levels reach ~8 mg/dL in normolipidemic Japanese children, independent of body size.

n=146

Why the study?

Serum lipoprotein(a) levels in Japanese children with normal LDL-C levels were not well characterized.

Key Points

To determine serum lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) concentrations and evaluate their association with clinical parameters in Japanese children with normal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.
Evaluated 170 pediatric outpatients aged 0-17 years who underwent Lp(a) testing, analyzing a subcohort of 146 children (64 boys, mean age 9.0 years) with LDL-C <140 mg/dL.
Assessed physical symptoms, routine laboratory profiles, and correlations between Lp(a) and anthropometric measures, thyroid hormones, and lipid parameters using Spearman rank correlation and multivariable linear regression.
Serum Lp(a) showed a right-skewed distribution ranging from 1 to 82.3 mg/dL, with an overall median of 8.0 mg/dL (27.6 nmol/L; 7.5 mg/dL in boys, 8.4 mg/dL in girls) and a 95th percentile of 29.7 mg/dL (109.6 nmol/L).
In children with LDL-C <140 mg/dL, multivariable regression showed no significant association between LDL-C and log-transformed Lp(a) (beta = 0.005, 95% CI -0.003 to 0.014, p = 0.224), which remained non-significant after adjusting for Lp(a)-corrected LDL-C (beta = -0.002, 95% CI -0.010 to 0.007, p = 0.697).
Lp(a) levels showed weak positive correlations with total cholesterol (r = 0.278, p < 0.05) and apolipoprotein B (r = 0.260, p < 0.01), but were not significantly correlated with age, overweight indices, thyroid hormones, or C-reactive protein.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=146)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

P

Population

146 clinically stable Japanese children aged 0-17 years (mean age 9.0, 56.2% female) with normal LDL-C levels (<140 mg/dL) who underwent routine Lp(a) measurement.

O

Outcome

Distribution of serum Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels and its association with clinical parameters (anthropometric indices, lipid parameters, thyroid hormones, and CRP)surrogate

In Japanese children with normal LDL-C levels, Lp(a) levels are largely regulated independent of body size and LDL-C, establishing preliminary pediatric reference data for this population.

Limitations

Recruited from a single pediatric clinic and may not be fully representative of the general healthy pediatric population.
Small sample size from a single center.
Information on pubertal development was not available.
Lp(a)-corrected LDL-C was calculated based on an assumption rather than directly measured.
No genetic analyses were performed to evaluate underlying mechanisms.
Single-center study
Relatively small sample size
Participants were recruited from a pediatric clinic and may not be fully representative of the general healthy pediatric population

Implication

May inform Lp(a) interpretation in Japanese children with normal LDL-C; leaves open generalizability and prognostic value.

Abstract

AIM: To determine the serum lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels in Japanese children with normal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. METHODS: Data from 170 pediatric outpatients aged 0-17 years who underwent Lp(a) measurements were included. Among them, 146 children (64 boys) with LDL-C levels ＜140 mg/dL were analyzed. At the time of blood sampling, none of the participants had any physical symptoms, and routine laboratory examinations showed no abnormalities. The association between the Lp(a) levels and clinical parameters was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the children was 9.0 years, and 25 were obese. The serum Lp(a) concentrations ranged from 1 to 82.3 mg/dL and showed a right-skewed distribution. The median Lp(a) levels were 8.0 mg/dL (27.6 nmol/L), 7.5 mg/dL in boys, and 8.4 mg/dL in girls. The 95th percentile was 29.7 mg/dL (109.6 nmol/L). Lp(a) levels were not significantly correlated with age, overweight indices, thyroid hormones, or C-reactive protein. Among the lipid-related parameters, weak positive correlations were observed for total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. Elevated Lp(a) levels were more prevalent in children with elevated LDL-C levels. However, among children with LDL-C ＜140 mg/dL, no statistically significant association was observed between LDL-C and Lp(a), and this association was further attenuated when LDL-C corrected for the contribution of Lp(a) was used. Similar findings were observed in the multivariable regression analyses. CONCLUSION: In children with LDL-C ＜140 mg/dL, the Lp(a) levels appear to be largely regulated independent of body size and LDL-C. The median Lp(a) was 8 mg/dL (≈30 nmol/L), and levels ≥ 30 mg/dL (≈110 nmol/L) were considered to be high.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Dobashi et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Normal Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (n=146). Normal LDL-C levels (<140 mg/dL) was evaluated on Median serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration. In Japanese children with normal LDL-C levels (<140 mg/dL), the median serum Lp(a) concentration was 8.0 mg/dL, with a 95th percentile of 29.7 mg/dL, independent of body size and LDL-C.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ad0fcf33afa093ea9ad00b7 https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.66281

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Serum Lipoprotein(a) Levels in Japanese Children with Normal Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Serum Lipoprotein(a) Levels in Japanese Children with Normal Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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