title: Impact of repeated dietary counseling between infancy and 14 years of age on dietary intakes and serum lipids and lipoproteins: the STRIP study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atherosclerosis development might be delayed or prevented by dietary measures. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effect of low-saturated-fat, low-cholesterol dietary counseling on fat intakes, growth, serum cholesterol values, and pubertal development in children and adolescents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the randomized prospective Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP), a low-saturated-fat, low-cholesterol diet was introduced to intervention infants (n=540) at 7 months of age, and control children (n=522) received an unrestricted diet. Dietary intakes, serum cholesterol values, somatic growth, and development were followed up throughout childhood and adolescence. Saturated fat intakes, serum total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values were lower (P<0.001) in the intervention than in control children during the 14 years, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values in the 2 study groups showed no difference. Boys had lower total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations than girls throughout childhood (P<0.001), and the intervention effect on serum cholesterol concentration was larger in boys than girls. The 2 study groups showed no difference in growth, body mass index, pubertal development, or age at menarche (median, 13.0 and 12.8 years in the intervention and control girls, respectively; P=0.52). The cholesterol values decreased as puberty progressed. Mean concentrations of total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased from approximately 4.5 and approximately 1.4 mmol/L, respectively, in Tanner stage 1 (prepubertal) boys to approximately 3.9 and approximately 1.1 mmol/L in Tanner stage 4 (late pubertal) boys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated dietary counseling remains effective in decreasing saturated fat and cholesterol intake and serum cholesterol values at least until 14 years of age. Puberty markedly influences serum cholesterol concentrations.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland. harri.niinikoski@tyks.fi
authors: Harri
authors: H
authors: Niinikoski
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Lagström
authors: Eero
authors: E
authors: Jokinen
authors: Marja
authors: M
authors: Siltala
authors: Tapani
authors: T
authors: Rönnemaa
authors: Jorma
authors: J
authors: Viikari
authors: Olli T
authors: OT
authors: Raitakari
authors: Antti
authors: A
authors: Jula
authors: Jukka
authors: J
authors: Marniemi
authors: Kirsti
authors: K
authors: Näntö-Salonen
authors: Olli
authors: O
authors: Simell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003376:Counseling; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol