The aim of this study was to determine in inhabitants of different age categories the variability of biochemical markers and somatic characteristics and their mutual relationship. Probands were examined by anthropometric and biochemi- cal methods, as well as questionnaires. Individual somatotypes were determined by the method of Heath and Carter (9).From the total number of 79 probands (39 children and 40 adults) living in Žiar basin for at least 5 years, the following physiological values are above normal: total cholesterol in 35.44%, triglycerides 13.92%, LDL-cholesterol 34.18%, HDL-cho- lesterol 73.42%, risk index r 1 67.09%, risk index r 2 40.51% and of atherogenity index I a in 30.39% of probands. With respect to somatic characteristics, the investigated group of children doesn’t differ significantly from average values of the Slovak population. More than 10% of adult men and women reach in certain circumferences values above the 95 th percentile of the population of the Slovak Republic. Elevated values of BMI, WHR and Rohrer’s indices were observed only in adult probands. Individuals with higher WHR have usually at the same time low HDL, higher LDL-cholesterol levels and higher risk indices x1, x2 and Ia. In both sexes, somatotype varies with age. Prevailing somatotypes in investigated age categories among females are as follows: in girls aged between 10 - 14 years balanced somatotype (4.07 - 3.0 - 3.64), in girls aged between 15 - 19 years endo- morphy-ectomorphy (4.15 - 2.80 - 3.80) and in women aged between 40 - 50 years ectomorphy-mesomorphy (6.02 - 5.69 - 1.14). Among males: in boys aged between 10 -14 years ectomorphy-mesomorphy (2.61 - 3.98 - 4.28), in boys aged between 15 - 19 years central somatotype (2.81 - 3.50 - 3.04) and men aged between 40 - 50 years are ectomorphic mesomorphs (3.47 - 5.31 - 1.66). Somatotypes of individuals with two or three higher risk indices, calculated from biochemical data, are in the somatogram localized in zones with a higher ratio of the endomorphic component than individuals with these indices within physio- logical limits. The variability of the endomorphic component has been proven to statistically significantly depend on the variability of fat values; similarly, the variability of fat depends on variability of values of triglycerides. Statistically significant dependence of variability of endomorphic component on variability of triglyceride and lipid values not been proved; variability of fat the on variability of lipids.

        Key words: Žiar basin - biochemical markers - somatic characteristics - indices -