Atherogenic diet and blood lipid profile in children and adolescents from Galicia, NW Spain. The Galinut Study

We studied serum levels of total cholesterol, lipoproteins and triglyceride s in venous blood samples and the intake of nutrients using the subject's d aily record of food eaten during a period of 7 d. The material comprised 73 67 children and adolescents. The overall average lipid levels (4.55 +/- 0.9 1 mmol/L for TC, 1.42 +/- 0.47 mmol/L for HDL-C, 2.74 +/- 0.96 mmol/L for L DL-C) are high and similar to those found in other regions of Spain in the 1990s. The proportion of children with TC greater than or equal to 5.17 mmo l/L (200 mg/dl) was 19%; that of children with HDL-C less than or equal to 0.9 mmol/L (35 mg/dL) 6.5%. There is a striking and statistically significa nt difference between the proportions of boys and girls aged 15-20 y who ha ve HDL-C levels in this range (15.8% for boys and only 4.2% for girls). We also demonstrate a high total fat (44% of TCV), saturated fat (16% TCV) and cholesterol (387 mg) intake. Because of the elevated fat and saturated fat intake and the increment of a more atherogenic lipid profile in our childr en, preventive nutritional measures are necessary, and life habits such as physical exercise and actively reducing fat and saturated fat intake have t o be applied and inculcated in children from an early age.