NUTRIENT INTAKES BY YOUNG-CHILDREN IN A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF A LOW-SATURATED FAT, LOW-CHOLESTEROL DIET - THE STRIP BABY PROJECT

Objective: To evaluate the impact of individualized and repeatedly giv en dietary counseling on fat intake and nutrient intake of children ag ed 8 months to 4 years. Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial. Participants: Children (N=1062) from 1054 families were randomized to an intervention (n=540) or a control (n=522) group when each child pa rticipant was 6 months old. Interventions: The children in the interve ntion group were counseled to reduce their intake of saturated fat and cholesterol but to ensure their adequate energy intake. Dietary issue s were discussed with the families of the children in the control grou p only briefly according to the current practice of well-baby clinics. Main Outcome Measures: Food consumption was evaluated by using 3- and 4-day food records that were kept at 5- to 12-month intervals, and nu trient intakes were analyzed with a Micro Nutrica computer program (So cial Insurance Institution, Turku, Finland). Results: The intake of fa t (29% of the energy intake) and cholesterol (70 mg) showed no differe nces between the groups of children at 8 months of age. The fat intake in the children in the intervention group was then continuously 2% of the energy intake below that of the children in the control group (P< .001). After the age of 13 months, the cholesterol intake of the child ren in the control group exceeded that of the children in the interven tion group by 20 mg (P<.001). The children in,the intervention group c onsumed 3% (of the energy intake) less saturated (P<.001) and 1% (of t he energy intake) more polyunsaturated fats (P<.001) than did the chil dren in the control group at age 13 months and older. The carbohydrate intake was slightly higher in the children in the intervention group than in the children in the control group. Intakes of vitamins, minera ls, and trace elements showed no differences between the 2 groups. Con clusions: The intakes of fat by the children in the intervention and c ontrol groups were markedly below values that were recommended for the first 2 years of Life. Despite the low intake of fat, the intake of o ther nutrients fulfilled current recommendations, except for vitamin D and iron. Individualized dietary counseling that led to clear changes in the type of fat intake had a minimal effect on vitamin or mineral intakes.