title: Effects of diet on the neurologic development of children at 5 years of age: the STRIP project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of diet, serum cholesterol concentrations, and apolipoprotein E phenotype on neurodevelopment of 5-year-old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, 4.4-year cohort study in 496 children. Fat-modified diet was introduced to intervention families of 7-month-old infants. Control children consumed an unrestricted diet. Nutrient intakes, serum cholesterol, and neurodevelopment were studied. The groups were combined in univariate and stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 13-month-old boys (girls), energy intake was 996 (938) kcal, fat intake 26.6 (26.4) percent of energy (E%), and protein intake 17.2 (17.4) E%. In 5-year-old boys (girls), the intakes were 1484 (1364) kcal, 32.1 (31.9) E%, and 15.5 (15.9) E%, respectively. The intakes of total fat and saturated fat and serum cholesterol were not associated with neurodevelopment. In boys, high intake of protein at 5 years, high intakes of protein at 4 years and cholesterol at 2 years, and high intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids at 3 years predicted favorable outcomes in the tests of speech and language skills, gross motor function and perception, and visual motor skills, respectively. Apolipoprotein E phenotype did not influence the test performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate restriction of dietary fat has no unfavorable effects on neurodevelopment in early childhood. However, the quality of fat and the relative intake of protein may influence neurodevelopment of the boys.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rask-Nissilä
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jokinen
authors.forename: Pirjo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Terho
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tammi
authors.forename: Maarit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hakanen
authors.forename: Tapani
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rönnemaa
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viikari
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seppänen
authors.forename: Ilkka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Välimäki
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Helenius
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Simell
mesh_terms: D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003376:Counseling; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol