No adverse effects on growth seen in Scottish school children consuming either low fat diets or diets relatively high in non-starch polysaccharide

Abstract

This paper reports whether diets relatively high in non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) or those which meet Dietary Reference Values for percentage energy from fat are associated with poor growth and anthropometric status. Children aged seven to eight years (n = 136) were recruited from five schools in and around Edinburgh, selected randomly by Lothian Region's Education Department. Dietary intakes were estimated by their parents, using the seven day weighed inventory method. Height and weight were measured twice, with an interval of approximately 12 months, and expressed as standard deviation scores of 1990 UK population standards. There were no significant differences in mean height, weight, body mass index and height velocity between those children whose diets were relatively high in NSP or low in percentage energy from fat compared to the remainder of the sample. In addition, using multiple regression analysis, no associations were seen between growth and low fat diets or between growth and higher fibre diets. These results suggest that the low fat, higher fibre message can be applied to young children. However, further research is required to ensure that the results found in this sample apply to other groups of children.