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Review
. 2023 Jun 22;49(1):77.
doi: 10.1186/s13052-023-01479-8.

Dietary intervention for children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia

Maria Elena Capra #  1   2   3 , Giacomo Biasucci #  4   5 , Elisa Crivellaro  6 , Giuseppe Banderali  3   7 , Cristina Pederiva  3   7
Affiliations
Review

Dietary intervention for children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia

Maria Elena Capra et al. Ital J Pediatr. .

Abstract

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a frequent genetic disorder characterised by high plasma levels of total and LDL-cholesterol and premature atherosclerosis. If left untreated, affected subjects have a high risk of cardiovascular disease, as they are exposed to very high levels of LDL-cholesterol from birth. Healthy dietary habits and lifestyle are the first treatment option and, if started from childhood, represent a milestone in the prevention of atherosclerotic disease, both as a starting point and in combination with drug therapy. In this work, based on the main consensus documents available so far, we have evaluated the most up-to-date indications of the dietetic-nutritional intervention for the treatment of FH, delving into the peculiar aspects of the diet of the child/adolescent affected by FH. After an analysis of the macro- and micronutrients and the most common dietary patterns currently recommended, we highlighted some practical aspects, some frequent errors and some risks we could fall into when dealing with paediatric nutritional treatment. In conclusion, the dietary intervention for the child/adolescent with FH is a complex task, that should be individualised and tailored taking into account, first of all, the nutritional adequacy for growth and development, but also the multiple aspects linked to the child/adolescent's age, tastes and preferences, the family they belong to, the socio-economic context and the Country they live in.

Keywords: Children; Dietary pattern; Familial hypercholesterolaemia; Healthy lifestyle; Mediterranean Diet.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Frequency of different food consumption according to their effect on CVD risk, adapted from EAS/ESC guidelines 2019 [8]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effect of nutritional and lifestyle habits on lipid profile. 3 stands for a > 10% variation in specific lipid fraction, 2 for a 5–10% and 1 for a < 5% variation. Empty box means that there is no effect on lipid profile, adapted from EAS/ESC guidelines 2019 [8]
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Main nutritional indications for paediatric subjects with FH, adapted from (https://sip.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/POSTER_PIRAMIDE.pdf)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Meals distribution during the day, according to SINUPE guidelines [10]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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