Intervention to Reduce Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors in Infants
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
The Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) is a prospective, randomized, intervention trial aimed at the reduction of coronary heart disease risk factors after a child's first year of life. Previous studies have show that individualized dietary counseling markedly changed the dietary intake patterns of children towards a diet that, if sustained over the lifetime, would favor cardiovascular health.
The intervention children and parents were recruited to the study from well-infant clinics at the routine 5-month visit. Participants received biannual individualized counseling about how to modify the quality and quantity of fat in the child's diet. The optimal diet was defined to contain an unsaturated-saturated fatty acid ratio of 2:1. The intervention was individualized in that participants were never given a prescribed diet to follow but were encouraged to make changes slowly and work towards the desired ratio of unsaturated-saturated fats. Food intake was tracked through a food diary that the parents kept for the children. Between office visits, the children were sent mailings to encourage an interest in nutrition (e.g., paper cut-outs of fruits and vegetables) and parents were encouraged to talk to their children about nutrition topics covered in their previous office visit.
The intervention children and parents were recruited to the study from well-infant clinics at the routine 5-month visit. Participants received biannual individualized counseling about how to modify the quality and quantity of fat in the child's diet. The optimal diet was defined to contain an unsaturated-saturated fatty acid ratio of 2:1. The intervention was individualized in that participants were never given a prescribed diet to follow but were encouraged to make changes slowly and work towards the desired ratio of unsaturated-saturated fats. Food intake was tracked through a food diary that the parents kept for the children. Between office visits, the children were sent mailings to encourage an interest in nutrition (e.g., paper cut-outs of fruits and vegetables) and parents were encouraged to talk to their children about nutrition topics covered in their previous office visit.
Goal / Mission
To decrease saturated fat consumption and thus reduce coronary heart disease risk factors in young children.
Impact
STRIP's intervention of diet counseling that began at a child's infancy favorably impacted the child's diet through childhood up to ages 8 or 10, but the goal of 2:1 unsaturated-saturated fatty acid ratio in a child's diet was not met for either intervention or control group.
Results / Accomplishments
When children, aged four to 10, who participated in the nutrition intervention during infancy were compared to children that did not participate, it was found that the fat intake of the intervention children was constantly around 30% of total calorie intake, while that of the control children was 2 to 3 calorie percentage units higher (P<0.001). The intervention children consumed 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<0.001 for both). However, neither group reached the 2:1 unsaturated-saturated fatty acid ratio goal.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine
Primary Contact
Sanna Talvia
Research Centre for Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine,
Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FIN-20520
Turku, Finland
sanna.talvia@utu.fi
Research Centre for Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine,
Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FIN-20520
Turku, Finland
sanna.talvia@utu.fi
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Children's Health
Health / Children's Health
Organization(s)
Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine
Source
University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Date of publication
2004
Location
Finland
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Families