Cholesterol Screening in Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a new policy on testing cholesterol levels in young children. Most surprising and interesting to parents is the recommendation that some kids ages 2 to 10 have their cholesterol tested, and that some kids as young as 1 drink low-fat (2 percent) milk instead of whole milk.


If you think these recommendations might apply to your child, read the policy statement below and ask your child's doctor.


Here's the AAP's announcement about its new recommendations. The policy was published in the July 2008 issue of Pediatrics, the AAP's peer-reviewed journal:


New AAP Policy on Lipid Screening and Heart Health in Children


The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new cholesterol screening and treatment recommendations for children. The policy statement, "Lipid Screening and Cardiovascular Health in Childhood," recommends cholesterol screening of children and adolescents with a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease. It also recommends screening patients whose family history is unknown or those who have other factors for heart disease including obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes. Screening should take place after age 2, but no later than age 10. The best method for testing is a fasting lipid profile. If a child has values within the normal range, testing should be repeated in three to five years. For children who are more than 8 years old and who have high LDL concentrations, cholesterol-reducing medications should be considered. Younger patients with elevated cholesterol readings should focus on weight reduction and increased activity while receiving nutritional counseling. The statement also recommends the use of reduced-fat dairy products, such as two percent milk, for children as young as 1 year of age for whom overweight or obesity is a concern.