One-year follow-up of nutrition education for hypercholesterolemic children

Objectives. This study evaluated retention of the effect of a home-based, practitioner-initiated nutrition education model. Methods. Children with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were randomly assigned to one of two nutrition interventions or to an at-risk control group. Intervention effects were evaluated 3, 6, and 12 months postbaseline. Results. The parent-child autotutorial group demonstrated significant increases in knowledge and, along with the counseling group decreases in total and saturated fat intake. Also, the autotutorial and counseling groups retained a majority of their initial LDL cholesterol decrease. Conclusions: Knowledge of heart-healthful eating and dietary fat intake as well as dietary change can be affected and retained via home-based, practitioner-initiated nutrition interventions with hypercholesterolemic children, although some form of ongoing intervention may be necessary to produce lasting decreases in LDL cholesterol levels.