Table 1.

Circadian rhythm characteristics of circulating plasma lipid components in different age groups

Variable	RhythmometricSummary
Group		k	PR	P	MESOR ± SE	Amplitude (95 % CI)	Acrophase (95 % CI)
T-C	A	42	81.2	<0.001	170.4 ± 2.0	24.8 (22.1–27.6)	–244° (–236°,–252°)
	B	60	81.0	<0.001	170.2 ± 1.5	21.5 (19.6,23.4)	–267° (–261°,–274°)
	C	35	70.3	<0.001	166.9 ± 1.3	16.4 (13.6–19.2)	–245° (–232°,–260°)
	D	25	82.0	<0.001	165.5 ± 1.5	22.7 (20.2,25.2)	–221° (–213°,–228°)
HDL–C	A	42	77.4	<0.001	41.6 ± 0.7	12.6 (11.1–14.0)	–242° (–235°,–250°)
	B	60	77.9	<0.001	47.9 ± 0.6	13.1 (12.1–14.1)	–253° (–247°,–260°)
	C	35	80.7	<0.001	46.3 ± 0.7	13.6 (12.0–15.2)	–245 (–239°,–253°)
	D	25	80.8	<0.001	38.6 ± 1.0	10.4 (8.2–12.6)	–221° (–213°,–233°)
PL	A	42	87.4	<0.001	103.8 ± 1.3	22.5 (20.0–25.0)	–226° (–217°,–235°)
	B	60	87.2	<0.001	126.6 ± 1.5	25.5 (22.4–28.7)	–216° (–207°,–227°)
	C	35	83.1	<0.001	125.7 ± 1.9	27.1 (22.9–31.3)	–232° (–222°,–243°)
	D	25	76.0	0.016	120.6 ± 2.5	8.7 (2.0–15.4)	–298° (–230°,–333°)
TL	A	42	86.8	<0.001	386.0 ± 7.4	75.1 (63.5–86.6)	–257° (–246°,–269°)
	B	60	81.2	<0.001	524.3 ± 9.3	75.1 (65.1–85.1)	–258° (–247°,–269°)
	C	35	71.0	<0.001	505.9 ± 6.9	50.5 (40.4–60.7)	–242° (–225°,–260°)
	D	25	71.0	=0.002	494.9 ± 12.8	29.0 (14.4–43.7)	–122° (–90°,–149°)

Groups A: 7–20 years; B: 21–40 years; C: 41–60 years; D: 61–75 years

T-C total cholesterol, HDL-C high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, PL phospholipids, TL total lipids, k number of participants, PR percent rhythm–average proportion of variance accounted for by fit of 24-h cosine curve to individual data series, P p value from zero-amplitude (no-rhythm) test, M MESOR–a chronome-adjusted mean value, Amplitude circadian amplitude–measure of half the extent of predictable change within a day, Ø acrophase–measure of the timing of overall high recurring each day–expressed in (negative) degrees with 360° ≡ 24 h and 0° = 00:00, SE standard error, 95 % CI 95 % confidence interval