Comparison of serum cholesterol in children fed high, moderate, or low cholesterol milk diets during neonatal period

Abstract

The long-term effects of milk diets in infancy on the blood serum cholesterol concentrations were studied in 97 school children 7-12 yr of age. Detailed histories were available for these children with respect to their diets during infancy. The major criterion for inclusion in the study was milk (human milk, cow's milk, or commercial formula) as the exclusive source of diet cholesterol during the first 3 mo of life. Fasting blood cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in these 97 school children, and the current diets of 29 of the 97 were evaluated for daily cholesterol intake. A 7-day diet diary was recorded, the food intake was measured and analyzed for nutrients, and validity of the diets was verified by determination of urinary nitrogen excretion. Results of the study showed that the school children fed a low cholesterol formula during infancy had a mean serum cholesterol value 7-12 yr later that was lower than the mean values of the groups fed greater amounts of cholesterol in infancy. Analysis of current diets of 29 of the 97 school children showed that their current dietary intake of cholesterol was low. Dietary intake of cholesterol did not have a noticeable effect on the serum cholesterol levels of the 29 children.