Early low-fat diet doesn't harm development

LONDON, August 25 (SPIS MedWire). Children who eat a low fat, low-cholesterol diet from infancy do not seem to suffer any adverse neurological consequences, according to data from the Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP) study. Previous studies have suggested that modification of dietary patterns in babies to prevent atherosclerosis and heart disease does not affect growth, but there remain concerns over the possible effect on neurological development. The Finnish researchers, led by Leena Rask-Nissilä of the University of Turku, analyzed the effect of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol on 496 children from birth to five years. Participants were randomly assigned to receive individual counselling aimed at limited their child's fat intake to 30% to 35% of daily energy, with a saturated:monounsaturated:unsaturated fatty acid ratio 1:1:1 and a cholesterol intake of less than 200 mg/d, or usual health education (controls). After 13 to 60 months, serum ...