A randomized intervention since infancy to reduce intake of saturated fat: calorie (energy) and nutrient intakes up to the age of 10 years in the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the longitudinal impact of dietary counseling on children's nutrient intake.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, clinical trial.


METHODS
Children were recruited to the study between December 1, 1989, and May 30, 1992. At the age of 7 months, children were randomized to the intervention group (n = 540) or the control group (n = 522) and were followed up until the age of 10 years. Intervention Families in the intervention group have, since randomization, received regularly individualized counseling about how to modify the quality and quantity of fat in the child's diet, the goal being an unsaturated-saturated fat ratio of 2:1.


METHODS
Nutrient intakes between the ages of 4 and 10 years based on annual 4-day food records.


RESULTS
The fat intake of the intervention children was constantly around 30% of the calorie (energy) intake, while that of the control children was 2 to 3 calorie percentage units higher (P<.001). The intervention children received 2 to 3 calorie percentage units less saturated fats and 0.5 to 1.0 calorie percentage unit more polyunsaturated fats than the control children (P<.001 for both). However, neither group reached the 2:1 goal set for the unsaturated-saturated fatty acid ratio. The vitamin and mineral intakes of the intervention and control children closely resembled each other despite the marked differences in fat intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Individualized, biannually given, fat intake-focused dietary counseling that began at the child's age of 8 months continued to influence favorably the diet of 4- to 10-year-old intervention children without disadvantageous dietary effects, but the 2:1 goal for unsaturated-saturated fat ratio was not reached.
Talvia
Sanna
S
Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku. sanna.talvia@utu.fi
Lagström
Hanna
H
Räsänen
Minna
M
Salminen
Mari
M
Räsänen
Leena
L
Salo
Pia
P
Viikari
Jorma
J
Rönnemaa
Tapani
T
Jokinen
Eero
E
Vahlberg
Tero
T
Simell
Olli
O
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003376:Counseling; D004034:Diet Surveys; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D014815:Vitamins