Normal growth in high-risk hyperlipidemic children and adolescents with dietary intervention

Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of l owering dietary intake of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol in grow ing children and adolescents with severe hyperlipidemia. Study Design. This is a 3-year follow-up study conducted on a sample of con venience at three pediatric referral centers in New York City and its subur bs. Subjects were 138 children and adolescents 2 to 15 years of age (54% ma le), who had been referred with a diagnosis of hyperlipidemia. Those select ed had total serum cholesterol values greater than the 95th percentile for age and had at least three visits over 3 years. They were placed on diets r estricting total fat content to 30% of total calories and saturated fat to 10% of total calories (National Cholesterol Education Program Step I diet). Anthropometric measures, lipid profiles, and dietary assessment were obtai ned at each visit. Anthropometric data were analyzed by sex and age. Z scor es for height and weight were calculated from NHANES II data and were compa red by paired t tests (Hamill et al., 1979, Am J Clin Nutr 32:607-29). Results. Total serum cholesterol dropped from 262 mg/dL at baseline to 249 mg/dL at S-year follow-up (P = 0.003). There was no significant change in h eight or weight percentile, expressed as Z score, from baseline to 3-year f ollow up. Conclusions. In this population the supervised dietary interventions result ed in a sustained improvement of the lipid profile, with no demonstable adv erse effect on growth. (C) 1998 American Health Foundation and Academic Pre ss.