The effect of fiber supplementation on lipid profile in children with hypercholesterolemia

Cholesterol-Lowering Bioactive Foods and Nutraceuticals in Pediatrics: Clinical Evidence of Efficacy and Safety

Long-term exposure to even slightly elevated plasma cholesterol levels significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The latest evidence recommends an improvement in plasma lipid levels, even in children who are not affected by severe hypercholesterolemia. The risk-benefit profile of pharmacological treatments in pediatric patients with moderate dyslipidemia is uncertain, and several cholesterol-lowering nutraceuticals have been recently tested. In this context, the available randomized clinical trials are small, short-term and mainly tested different types of fibers, plant sterols/stanols, standardized extracts of red yeast rice, polyunsaturated fatty acids, soy derivatives, and some probiotics. In children with dyslipidemia, nutraceuticals can improve lipid profile in the context of an adequate, well-balanced diet combined with regular physical activity. Of course, they should not be considered an alternative to conventional lipid-lowering drugs when necessary.

Fatores associados à dislipidemia em crianças e adolescentes de escolas públicas de Salvador, Bahia

OBJETIVO: Este estudo aborda os fatores associados a dislipidemia em crianças e adolescentes matriculados na rede pública de ensino da cidade de Salvador, BA. MÉTODOS: Os participantes foram submetidos a avaliação antropométrica, coleta de sangue para dosagem de colesterol e triglicérides. As informações relacionadas a consumo alimentar, atividade física e condições socioeconômicas e de moradia da família foram fornecidas pelos responsáveis. Regressão logistica mutivariada foi utilizada para as avaliações de interesse. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de dislipidemia encontrada no presente estudo foi de 25,5% (IC:95% 22,7; 28,3). Observou-se associação positiva e estatiticamentre significante entre dislipidemia e excesso de peso (0R = 3,40; IC95%: 2,07-5,58), moderado e alto consumo de alimentos de risco (OR = 1,49; IC95%: 1,01-2,19), baixo e moderado consumo de alimentos protetores (OR = 1,54; IC95%: 1,05-2,26) e menor nível de escolaridade materna (OR = 1,72; IC95%: 1,05-2,26). CONCLUSÃO: O excesso de peso, consumo alimentar inadequado e baixa escolaridade materna constituem fatores associados a dislipidemia.

Nutraceuticals in the early infancy

Atherosclerosis disease and its extent in childhood correlate positively with established risk factors, namely obesity, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The safety and efficacy of some dietary interventions to modulate risk factors in childhood are documented by an increasing body of evidence. The present review analyzes nutritional and nutraceutical current strategies addressed to modify some risk factors of atherosclerosis in childhood. In particular, studies concerning nutrients such as fibers, omega-3-fatty acids, vitamin D, antioxidants, and calcium have been evaluated. An overall analysis suggests that some nutraceuticals might represent an attractive tool to lower the development of atherosclerotic-related cardiovascular complication in children. Nevertheless, at this moment, due to the methodological weakness that characterizes the majority of the analyzed studies, nutrients or supplements should not be considered as a therapeutic tool potentially usable for clinical purpose in children at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Screening and treatment for lipid disorders in children and adolescents: systematic evidence review for the US Preventive Services Task Force

OBJECTIVE

This was a systematic evidence review for the US Preventive Services Task Force, intended to synthesize the published evidence regarding the effectiveness of selecting, testing, and managing children and adolescents with dyslipidemia in the course of routine primary care.

METHODS

Literature searches were performed to identify published articles that addressed 10 key questions. The review focused on screening relevant to primary care of children without previously identified dyslipidemias, but included treatment trials of children with dyslipidemia because some drugs have only been tested in that population.

RESULTS

Normal values for lipids for children and adolescents are defined according to population levels (percentiles). Age, gender, and racial differences and temporal trends may alter these statistical cut points. Approximately 40% to 55% of children with elevated total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels will continue to have elevated lipid levels on follow-up. Current screening recommendations based on family history will fail to detect substantial numbers (30%-60%) of children with elevated lipid levels. Drug treatment for dyslipidemia in children has been studied and shown to be effective only for suspected or proven familial monogenic dyslipidemias. Intensive dietary counseling and follow-up can result in improvements in lipid levels, but these results have not been sustained after the cessation of the intervention. The few trials of exercise are of fair-to-poor quality and show little or no improvements in lipid levels for children without monogenic dyslipidemias. Although reported adverse effects were not serious, studies were generally small and not of sufficient duration to determine long-term effects of either short or extended use.

CONCLUSIONS

Several key issues about screening and treatment of dyslipidemia in children and adolescents could not be addressed because of lack of studies, including effectiveness of screening on adult coronary heart disease or lipid outcomes, optimal ages and intervals for screening children, or effects of treatment of childhood lipid levels on adult coronary heart disease outcomes.

Effect of dietary supplementation with glucomannan on plasma total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic children

AIM

This paper evaluates the effect of the adjunct of the hydrosoluble fiber glucomannan to a Step-One-Diet in 40 plasma hypercholesterolemic children, during a randomized controlled trial, to reduce plasma cholesterol.

METHODS

All the subjects recruited underwent an 8-week run in diet period; a Step-One-Diet was prescribed. After that, they were randomly allocated to one of two groups: Step-One-Diet only (control), and Step-One-Diet plus glucomannan in gelatine capsules. After another 8 weeks of treatment, the results were compared within and between the two groups.

RESULTS

Glucomannan treated group showed decreased values in plasma total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) vs. control group after 8 weeks of treatment. The percentage decrease showed a statistically significant difference between sex groups. Decreases were observed in favor of female vs. male children in TC (24% vs. 9%) and LDL-C (30% vs. 9%).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that glucomannan may represent a rationale adjunct to diet therapy in primary prevention in high risk hypercholesterolemic children.