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Cholesterol and Children (cont.)

Research Results

Children with high blood cholesterol levels can benefit from reducing the amount of fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol in their diets without adversely affecting their normal development, according to results from a long-term study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

In the Dietary Intervention Study in Children (DISC), children who adopted a recommended low-fat, low-cholesterol diet decreased their intake of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol within the first year of the study and maintained lower levels for several more years. These dietary modifications did not alter the children's growth, nutritional status, or sexual maturation throughout the 7-year study. Furthermore, the diet helped the children significantly decrease their blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) —the bad cholesterol —for up to 3 years.

Most children are already building plaque in their arteries. Atherosclerotic or fatty tissue is the material that causes blockage and leads to coronary heart disease. By age 20 years, plaque is present in about 15-20% of the population. Those most likely to have this plaque buildup have coronary heart disease risk factors: high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure.

Children and adolescents with high cholesterol levels are more likely to continue to have high levels as adults, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, with simple lifestyle changes, many of these children can grow into adulthood with cholesterol levels under control.