Dietary intake of children at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease and obesity begin in childhood, and dietary interventions to prevent them should be initiated then. We hypothesized that children who were at high risk for cardiovascular disease based on family history would have diets that were different than those of children from low-risk families. Two hundred ninety-seven children were screened for family history of early cardiovascular disease; had height, weight, and finger-stick total cholesterol measured; and filled out food frequency questionnaires. Sixty-eight (23%) children were at risk for cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol was significantly higher compared with those not at risk (4.71+/-0.93 mmol/L vs 4.35+/-0.92 mmol/L, P=.005). Intakes of energy, fat, fiber, and cholesterol were similar between groups. Children at high risk for cardiovascular disease were no more likely to meet guidelines for heart-healthy diets than were children at low risk. Families need guidance to change dietary patterns to prevent future disease.