Lipid profile in people with Down Syndrome: a literature review

People with Down syndrome (DS) may present changes in the lipid profile. The objective of this research was to collect data from the literature on the lipid profile and the effect of exercise on this variable of people with DS.  Five databases were searched (MedLine, Lilacs, EBSCO Host, Web of Science and PsycInfo) using terms related to the research objectives. At the end of the searches, 15 articles were included in the review. Five studies verified changes in the lipid profile and high incidence of dyslipidemias, with the most frequent changes being low HDL and elevated triglycerides. Two studies investigated the effect of intervention with exercise and counseling for health-friendly practices and found improvement mainly in HDL after the intervention period. Thus, the lipid profile should be investigated in people with DS and the practice of physical exercises can be used to control these variables.