Background: Introducing nutritional and lifestyle principles to children in late infancy may permanently improve their adherence to a low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet, thus reducing of coronary risk factors, but worries about possible effects on growth and development have hampered such an approach.
Objective: The Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project for Babies (STRIP) aimed to decrease exposure to known environmental atherosclerosis risk factors in children 7-36 mo of age.
Design: Repeated, individualized counseling aimed at promoting a fat intake of 30% of energy and a 1:1:1 ratio of saturated to monounsaturated to polyunsaturated fat intake was provided (n = 540 intervention children; 284 boys). Nutrition was discussed superficially with the families of the control children (n = 522; 266 boys) and food intake was recorded at 3-6-mo intervals by use of 3-4-d food diaries. Serum lipids were measured at 6-12-mo intervals and growth was monitored regularly.
Results: Fat intake of the intervention (control) children provided 29.5% (29.4%) of energy at the age of 8 mo, 26.6% (28.5%) of energy at 13 mo, 30.5% (33.5%) of energy at 24 mo, and 31. 5% (33.5%) of energy at 36 mo. The intervention children consistently consumed less saturated fat than did the control children (P: <0.0001). Recommended intakes of other nutrients (except vitamin D and occasionally iron) were reached irrespective of the amount and type of dietary fat. Serum cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol concentrations were 3-6% lower in the intervention children than in the control children. The intervention had no effect on height, weight, or head circumference gain. Fat intake did not predict children's growth patterns.
Conclusion: Repeated, individualized counseling in early childhood aimed at reducing consumption of saturated fat and cholesterol was effective and feasible and did not restrict growth in circumstances in which children were regularly monitored.