Effect of saturated fatty acid consumption on energy and nutrient intake and blood lipid levels in preschool children

Abstract

In this article the effects of saturated fatty acid (SFA) consumption on energy and nutrient intake, and on a range of serum lipid parameters (indicators of cardiovascular risk) are reported in a group of 110 preschool children. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: high consumption (HC), in which > or =13% (20th percentile) of total energy came from SFAs, and low consumption (LC), in which SFAs provided <13% of energy intake. Food intake was monitored for 7 consecutive days. At participating day care centers, a 'precise individual weighing' method was used, while a 'food intake record' was kept for foods taken at home. At the blood level it was found that HC subjects showed higher HDL-cholesterol levels and better HDL-cholesterol/LDL-cholesterol ratios than did LC subjects. The greater intakes of riboflavin, iodine, zinc, magnesium and calcium seen in HC subjects suggest that these may have a better nutritive status (with respect to certain nutrients) than LC subjects. The development of criteria for providing the greatest protection against cardiovascular disease, while maintaining good nutritive condition, should be the subject of future studies. This is especially important in children of preschool age since nutritional deficiencies at this stage in life can have important effects on growth and health.