Effect of 7-year infancy-onset dietary intervention on serum lipoproteins and lipoprotein subclasses in healthy children in the prospective, randomized Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project for Children (STRIP) study.
BACKGROUND
We previously showed that low-saturated-fat dietary intervention from infancy until 5 years of age safely and effectively reduced serum cholesterol concentration. We now report how such intervention influenced serum lipids, LDL particle size, and HDL subfractions in children when they reached the age of 7 years.


RESULTS
Healthy 7-month-old infants (n=1062) were randomized to the intervention (n=540) and control (n=522) groups. Each year, two individualized counseling sessions were organized to the intervention families. Serum lipid values were measured annually. The intervention boys had 0.20 to 0.39 mmol/L lower serum cholesterol values than the control boys throughout the follow-up (always P<0.05), but the values of the intervention and control girls did not differ. The LDL particle sizes and HDL subfractions were determined in a random subgroup of 96 intervention and 101 control children at the age of 7 years. The mean particle diameter of major LDL peak was 262.6 A in the intervention boys and 258.5 A in the control boys (P=0.05), and 259.2 A in the intervention girls and 261.3 A in the control girls (P=0.30). HDL2 and HDL3 cholesterol concentrations did not differ between the intervention and control children or between the two genders.


CONCLUSIONS
The 7-year intervention favorably influenced not only the serum total and LDL cholesterol concentrations but also the LDL particle size in boys. LDL particle size remained unchanged in girls, as did HDL2 and HDL3 concentrations in both genders.
Kaitosaari
Tuuli
T
Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland. tuuli.kaitosaari@utu.fi
Rönnemaa
Tapani
T
Raitakari
Olli
O
Talvia
Sanna
S
Kallio
Katariina
K
Volanen
Iina
I
Leino
Aila
A
Jokinen
Eero
E
Välimäki
Ilkka
I
Viikari
Jorma
J
Simell
Olli
O
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015930:Diet Records; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004041:Dietary Fats; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010316:Particle Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D013995:Time
D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol