Susana Larrosa1, Veronica Luque1,2, Veit Grote3, Ricardo Closa-Monasterolo1, Natalia Ferré1, Berthold Koletzko3,4, Elvira Verduci5,6, Dariusz Gruszfeld7, Annick Xhonneux8, Joaquin Escribano1,2. 1. Paediatrics, Nutrition and Development Research Unit, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, IISPV, 43204 Reus, Spain. 2. Serra Hunter Fellow, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43201 Reus, Spain. 3. Department Paediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80337 Munich, Germany. 4. Else Kröner-Seniorprofessor of Paediatrics, LMU Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80337 Munich, Germany. 5. Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20146 Milano, Italy. 6. Department of Pediatrics Ospedale Vittore Buzzi, University of Milan, 20154 Milano, Italy. 7. Neonatal Department, Children's Memorial Health Institute, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland. 8. CHC Sant Vincent, 4000 Liège-Rocourt, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We aimed at analysing the association between dietary fibre intake during childhood and cardiovascular health markers. METHODS: We used observational longitudinal analysis and recorded diet using 3-day diaries at the ages of 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 years in children from the EU Childhood Obesity Project Trial. At the age of 8, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and biochemical analyses (lipoproteins, triglycerides and homeostasis model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)) were evaluated. Those parameters were combined into a cardiometabolic risk score through the sum of their internal z-scores. RESULTS: Four-hundred children (51.8% girls) attended to the 8-year visit with a 3-day diary. Adjusted linear regression models showed that children who repeatedly stayed in the lowest tertile of fibre intake during childhood had higher HOMA-IR (p = 0.004), higher cardiometabolic risk score (p = 0.02) and a nonsignificant trend toward a higher SBP at 8 years. The higher the dietary intake of soluble fibre (from fruits and vegetables) at 8 years, the lower the HOMA-IR and the cardiometabolic risk score (p = 0.002; p = 0.004). SBP was directly associated with fibre from potatoes and inversely with fibre from nuts and pulses. CONCLUSION: A diet rich in dietary fibre from fruits, vegetables, pulses and nuts from early childhood was associated to a healthier cardiovascular profile, regardless of children's weight.
BACKGROUND: We aimed at analysing the association between dietary fibre intake during childhood and cardiovascular health markers. METHODS: We used observational longitudinal analysis and recorded diet using 3-day diaries at the ages of 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 years in children from the EU Childhood Obesity Project Trial. At the age of 8, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and biochemical analyses (lipoproteins, triglycerides and homeostasis model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)) were evaluated. Those parameters were combined into a cardiometabolic risk score through the sum of their internal z-scores. RESULTS: Four-hundred children (51.8% girls) attended to the 8-year visit with a 3-day diary. Adjusted linear regression models showed that children who repeatedly stayed in the lowest tertile of fibre intake during childhood had higher HOMA-IR (p = 0.004), higher cardiometabolic risk score (p = 0.02) and a nonsignificant trend toward a higher SBP at 8 years. The higher the dietary intake of soluble fibre (from fruits and vegetables) at 8 years, the lower the HOMA-IR and the cardiometabolic risk score (p = 0.002; p = 0.004). SBP was directly associated with fibre from potatoes and inversely with fibre from nuts and pulses. CONCLUSION: A diet rich in dietary fibre from fruits, vegetables, pulses and nuts from early childhood was associated to a healthier cardiovascular profile, regardless of children's weight.