OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and compliance of dietary restriction in a group of children and adolescents with hypercholesterolemia. RESEARCH DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. SETTING: Pediatric hospital in Madrid, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred fifty-one children and adolescents of both sexes aged 2 to 18 years diagnosed as having hypercholesterolemia and treated with dietary restriction (American Heart Association Step-One and Step-Two Diets). The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 2 years and was performed by one pediatrician. RESULTS: Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B-100 levels as well as the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio decreased significantly (P < .01) from the first month of dietary restriction, whereas the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased (P < .01). The apolipoprotein A-I level increased significantly (P < .01) only after 6 months of diet therapy. After 12 months of follow-up, 30.7% (58/189) of patients did not follow the diet strictly. In this group, significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B-100 were found. CONCLUSIONS: Diet therapy is effective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in children and adolescents. Dietary restriction has a beneficial effect not only on total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels but also on apolipoprotein A-I and B-100 levels.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and compliance of dietary restriction in a group of children and adolescents with hypercholesterolemia. RESEARCH DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. SETTING: Pediatric hospital in Madrid, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred fifty-one children and adolescents of both sexes aged 2 to 18 years diagnosed as having hypercholesterolemia and treated with dietary restriction (American Heart Association Step-One and Step-Two Diets). The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 2 years and was performed by one pediatrician. RESULTS: Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B-100 levels as well as the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio decreased significantly (P < .01) from the first month of dietary restriction, whereas the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased (P < .01). The apolipoprotein A-I level increased significantly (P < .01) only after 6 months of diet therapy. After 12 months of follow-up, 30.7% (58/189) of patients did not follow the diet strictly. In this group, significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B-100 were found. CONCLUSIONS: Diet therapy is effective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in children and adolescents. Dietary restriction has a beneficial effect not only on total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels but also on apolipoprotein A-I and B-100 levels.
Authors: A M Tershakovec; B M Shannon; C L Achterberg; J M McKenzie; J K Martel; H Smiciklas-Wright; S E Pammer; J A Cortner Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 1998-02 Impact factor: 9.308